The story behind Diana
Borrowed from Late Latin Diāna, short form of Latin Dīāna, derived by syncope from Old Latin Dīvāna, equivalent to dīvus + -āna; roughly akin to Proto-Italic *deiwā (“goddess”) + Proto-Indo-European *-néh₂. Originally an Old Italic divinity of light and the moon; later identified as the Roman counterpart to Greek goddess Artemis. Cognate of Attic Greek Διώνη (Diṓnē), similarly syncopated from older Ancient Greek Διϝωνη (Diwōnē), whence via Latin Diōne is derived English Dione used in various ways across astronomy, chemistry, biology, and as a given name. From the same root Proto-Indo-European *dyúh₃onh₂- also potentially cognate to English June via Latin Jūnō.
Other language forms and explanations (4)
Italian entry
From Latin Diana.
Polish entry
Learned borrowing from Late Latin Diāna, from Latin Dīāna, from Old Latin Dīvāna.
Portuguese entry
Learned borrowing from Latin Diāna. Doublet of Daiane and Daiana.
Spanish entry
From Latin Diāna.
Pronunciation
General-American, UK: /daɪˈænə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Italian: /ˈdja.na/
- Italian: /diˈa.na/
- Polish: /ˈdja.na/
- Portuguese; Brazil: /d͡ʒiˈɐ̃.nɐ/
- Portuguese; Brazil: /ˈd͡ʒjɐ̃.nɐ/
- Portuguese; Portugal: /diˈɐ.nɐ/
- Portuguese; Portugal: /ˈdjɐ.nɐ/
- Portuguese; Northern; Portugal: /diˈa.nɐ/
- Portuguese; Northern; Portugal: /ˈdja.nɐ/
- Spanish: /ˈdjana/
- Spanish: [ˈd̪ja.na]
Popularity
Diana ranked #244 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Diana
Deanna
A female given name from Latin, a twentieth century variant of Diana, sometimes also seen as a feminine form of Dean.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Dianna
A female given name from Latin, a less common spelling of Diana.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alma
Usually explained as Latin alma (“nourishing, kind”). It has also been used as a short form of Germanic compound names beginning with the element Amal-, as in Amelia. From…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Anna
From Late Latin Anna both directly and via numerous other languages, chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Anndra
From Latin Andreās, from Ancient Greek Ἀνδρέᾱς (Andréās).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aura
Shortened from Aurora.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Diana
Æmile
From Latin Aemilius. See also French Émile.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Balbina
Learned borrowing from Latin Balbina.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Balbino
Borrowed from Latin Balbīnus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Diana
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length