Diana_(given_name)

Diana (name)

Diana (name)

Name list


Diana is a feminine given name of Latin and Greek origins, referring to the Roman goddess Diana. It came into use in the Anglosphere in the 1600s by classically educated parents as an English language version of the French version of the name, Diane.[1] [2][3]

Quick Facts Gender, Origin ...

Variants

In other languages

Origin and diffusion

Diana recalls the Greek and Roman goddess Diana. Diana translates to the Latin form Artemis.[5][6] The name can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root *dyeu or *dyeus and *div- meaning "to shine" or "sky", dius, deus and diwio, "deity, god, godlike" and [5] dium meaning Universe.[6] The meanings are therefore "heavenly", "holy", "divine", "demonic", "celestial", "cosmic", "nebulous", "chaotic", "abyssal", "void", "luminous", "shining",[5] and in a broader sense "which brings the day", "which has light", "which has divine power", "which belongs to the void/abyss/chaos" and "which comes from the Universe/outer space".

Diana was already in use as a given name in ancient Rome, but exclusively outside Christian circles, in which it was seen as a pagan name.[5] In Italy, the variant "Daiana", an adaptation based on the English pronunciation, is also common.[4] The French variant "Diane" gained popularity during the 19th century.[3]

People

Fictional characters

See also


References

  1. Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006). Oxford Dictionary of First Names. Oxford University Press. p. 76. ISBN 0-19-861060-2.
  2. Crusca 1830, p. 627.
  3. Galgani 2005, p. 215.
  4. Galgani 2005, p. 223.

Bibliography

  • Accademia della Crusca (1830). Dizionario della lingua italiana – Volume VII. Padua: Tipografia della Minerva.
  • Albaigès i Olivart, Josep M. (1993). Diccionario de nombres de personas. Edicions Universitat Barcelona. ISBN 84-475-0264-3.
  • Galgani, Fabio (2005). Onomastica Maremmana. Centro Studi Storici "A. Gabrielli".
  • Sheard, K. M. (2011). Llewellyn's Complete Book of Names. Llewellyn Publications. ISBN 978-0-7387-2368-6.

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