A female name. Latin name of the moon goddess (Greek Artemis), probably a derivative of deus. The use as a christian name was a Renaissance fashion (e.g. Diane de Poitiers) and it is first found in England in the 16th C, e.g. Diana Luttrell b. 1580, Diana Cecil, d. of 2nd Earl of Exeter b. early in the 17th C, Dyana Sturdy 1618. It has never been a common name, but has been in regular use in e.g. the Manners family since the middle of the 18th C. Its comparative popularity in modern times may be due in part to Scott’s Diana Vernon, heroine of Rob Roy (1817) and Meredith’s Diana of the Crossways (1875). The abbreviation Di has been used since the 18th C (e.g. Lady Di Beauclerk (1734-1808)).

‘An ancient Italian divinity, whom the Romans identified with the Greek Artemis... At Rome Diana was the goddess of light, and her name contains the same root as... dies (day)... Diana... represented the moon’ (Blakeney). ‘His name slept as a mere pagan device till the’ C16, when it became fashionable with Spanish, then French, and then, especially during the Restoration period, English poets. ‘In the lower classes, Diana seems to be at times confused with the Scriptural Dinah,’ Yonge, 1884; in C20, the confusion has ascended to those who should know better.

A frequent name of women. So called after Diana, goddess of hunting. Some derive her name from dia, i. e. dea, and Iana; according to Varro, the same as Luna (the moon). Vossius says it is contracted from dea Iana; Nigidius, from Iana, prefixed by D. Hence as a nickname Di.

Latin (feminine) - Bright as day.

Dy-ay'-nah, luminous, perfect. A celebrated goddess of the Heathens, who was honoured principally at Ephesus. Acts xix.

Meaning: complete light: flow restrained.