Diane

At a Glance

Meaning

Divine, heavenly (French form of Diana)

Origin

French (from Latin)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

dy-ANListen

Diane is the French form of Diana, carrying the meaning 'divine' or 'heavenly.' You might come across a claim that it means 'valley,' but that's not backed by any etymology — Diane traces cleanly back to the Latin Diana. If you want a French-rooted name with a clear, well-documented meaning, Diane delivers that.

Meaning & Origin of Diane

Meaning: Divine, heavenly (French form of Diana).

Origin: French (from Latin).

A common claim: Diane is sometimes glossed as meaning 'divine,' and occasionally, incorrectly, 'valley.' Actually: The 'valley' meaning isn't supported by any etymology — Diane is simply the French form of Diana (from Latin Diana), meaning 'divine.'

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Diane

Popularity of Diane

Diane peaked at #14 in 1955, when 23,291 baby girls were given the name, but by 2024 it had dropped to #2247 with just 83 babies — SSA records for the name run from 1898 to 2024.

Names Like Diane

These names have followed a similar path to Diane in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Janice
• Mona
• Lex
• Jan
• Jacquelyn
• Pamela

FAQ

What does the name Diane mean?

Divine, heavenly (French form of Diana). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Diane?

Diane is pronounced dy-AN (IPA: /daɪˈæn/).

Is Diane a popular name right now?

Diane peaked at #14 in 1955 and is ranked #2247 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1898–2024.)

Make Diane Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Diane, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.