Diana

Meaning: Its source is Diviana, a Latin name meaning "Goddess."

Origin: "Diviana."

Languages: This girl's name is used in Dutch, English, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Polish and Czech.

Nicknames: Dee, Dia, Di, Disel and Didi

Compound Forms: Diantha and Jerrdin

Alternative Spellings: Dianna, Dyana and Dyanna

Variant Forms: Dayana, Dayanna, Deana, Deann, Deanna, Deanne, Dinah, Dayanara and Dianada

Source Forms: Diviana

Popularity: The name Diana ranked 107th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 96th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name was popular earlier in the 20th century, then fell off in usage, but has begun making a comeback in recent years.

Narrative: This was one of the names of the ancient Roman moon goddess, equivalent to the Greek goddess Artemis. She was also goddess of the hunt and of chastity. Like most deities, she was called by several names, including Cynthia and Delia.

The Latinate form of this name, Diana, was borne by the late Princess of Wales. The outpouring of affectionate grief that marked her passing could find further expression in the naming of baby Dianas well into the new century.

Arts and Music

''Diana''
- A 1957 hit recorded by Paul Anka (see list of Names in Song titles)
Diana Ross (born 1944)
American singer. Lead-singer of Motown greats The Supremes.
- Performed on ''''We Are the World'''' (see list of Performers on ''We Are the World'')

Leadership

Diana DeGette (born 1957)
American legislator.
- Representative, D-Colorado, 1997- (see list of Women in the House of Representatives)
Diana Gribbon Motz
American judge.
- Circuit Judge, Fourth Circuit Court (see list of Judges of the U.S. Courts of Appeals)
Diana E. Murphy
American judge.
- Circuit Judge, Eighth Circuit Court (see list of Judges of the U.S. Courts of Appeals)
Diana Princess of Wales (born 1961, died 1997)
- Celebrity royal (see list of Twenty people who articulate the longings of the last 100 years, exemplifying courage, selflessness, exuberance, superhuman ability and amazing grace)

Miscellaneous

Diana Adams
- 1954 Mademoiselle Award winner (see list of Mademoiselle Award Winners)
Diana Chang
- 1956 Mademoiselle Award winner (see list of Mademoiselle Award Winners)
Diana
Roman goddess of hunting, chastity and the moon.
- Identified with the Greek goddess Artemis (see list of Names from Roman Mythology)
Diana Dors (born 101931, died 1984)
English actress, often compared to Marilyn Monroe.
- On the cover of Sgt. Pepper''s Lonely Hearts Club Band (see list of Faces on the Cover of ''Sergeant Pepper'')
Diana Nyad
- 1976 Mademoiselle Award winner (see list of Mademoiselle Award Winners)

Sports

Diana Klybert
- Member of 1995 America''s Cup sailing team (see list of Members of the America-cubed Yachting Team)

Stage and Screen

Diana Barton
American actress.
- Actress on soap opera ''''The Young and the Restless'''' (see list of Performers on ''The Young and the Restless'')
Diana Canova (born 1953)
American actress.
- Portrayed Corrine Tate from 1977-80 (see list of Actors on ''Soap'')
Diana Hyland
American actress.
- Portrayed Joan Bradford (see list of Actors on ''Eight is Enough'')
Diana Lynn (born 1926, died 1971)
American actress.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television (see list of Television Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
Diana Muldaur (born 1938)
American actress.
- Portrayed Rosalind Shays (see list of Actors on ''L.A. Law'')
- Portrayed Dr. Katherine Pulaski, 1988-89 (see list of Actors on ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'')
Diana Rigg
English actress.
- Portrayed Emma Peel from 1966-68 (see list of Actors on ''The Avengers'')
Diana Ross (born 1944)
American singer. Lead-singer of Motown greats The Supremes.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording (see list of Recording Personalites with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
Diana Wynyard (born 1932, died 1964)
British actress.
- On Hollywood''s Footprints of Fame (see list of Celebrities Honored by Mann's Chinese Theater)

The Literary World

Diana
- An adventuress in All''s Well That Ends Well; the goddess of the same name appears to the title character in Pericles (see list of Shakespearean Characters)