How popular is the baby name Diana in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Diana.

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Popularity of the baby name Diana


Posts that mention the name Diana

Where did the baby name Dyana come from in 1944?

Radio singer Dyana Gayle
Dyana Gayle

The name Diana has been in use for centuries, but the specific spelling Dyana didn’t appear in the U.S. baby name data until the mid-1940s:

  • 1946: unlisted
  • 1945: unlisted
  • 1944: 7 baby girls named Dyana [debut]
  • 1943: unlisted
  • 1942: unlisted

I think the influence here is was radio vocalist Dyana Gayle.

Her photo ran in the newspapers in August of 1943. At that time, she and singing partner Phil Hanna were featured vocalists on the CBS radio show Your Home Front Reporter. They were only on the show for the several months (July to September) it aired out of Hollywood, though. (The show itself only lasted from May 1943 to August 1944.)

Radio singers Dyana Gayle and Phil Hanna (in 1943)

An article about Dyana from 1945 called her the “servicemen’s singing favorite.” “Dyana’s mail averages some one hundred and fifty letters daily from men in uniform.” It also mentioned that she had a husband (a Marine named Frank), a daughter (named Barbara), and enjoyed cooking, gardening, and playing gin rummy.

Do you like the spelling “Dyana,” or do you prefer “Diana”?

Sources:

  • Dunning, John. On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
  • Gordon, Shirley. “Slick Chick First Class.” Radio Life 22 Jul. 1945: 29, 31. (via American Radio History)
  • Banks, Dale. “What’s New from Coast to Coast.” Radio Mirror Nov. 1943: 6, 8-10. (via American Radio History)

Images: Clippings from Radio Life (22 Jul. 1945) and Radio Mirror (Nov. 1943)

What gave the baby name Diana a boost in 1957?

Paul Anka EP featuring "Diana" (1957).
Paul Anka EP

The ancient name Diana saw its highest usage in the U.S. in 1957, according to the SSA’s baby name data:

  • 1959: 8,637 baby girls named Diana [rank: 49th]
  • 1958: 9,162 baby girls named Diana [rank: 45th]
  • 1957: 9,431 baby girls named Diana [rank: 43rd]
  • 1956: 7,851 baby girls named Diana [rank: 56th]
  • 1955: 7,844 baby girls named Diana [rank: 55th]

Here’s a visual:

Graph of the usage of the baby name Diana in the U.S. since 1880
Usage of the baby name Diana

What gave the name a boost that year?

If you’ve ever listened to oldies radio, you’ll know the answer to this one: the song “Diana” by Paul Anka.

A Canadian of Lebanese descent, Paul had developed a crush on a slightly older girl named Diana Ayoub when he was 15. In his autobiography he said, “I saw her in church and at community events — and I was smitten.”

The situation inspired him to write the song “Diana,” which was recorded in May of 1957 and released in July — the month he turned 16.

The song quickly became a worldwide hit.

Billboard‘s “Hot 100” chart didn’t exist yet in 1957, but “Diana” peaked at #2 on its predecessor, the “Honor Roll of Hits” chart. (It wasn’t able to dislodge “Tammy” by Debbie Reynolds from the top spot.)

Paul sang “Diana” not once but twice on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1957. Here’s his second appearance:

What are your thoughts on the name Diana? Do you like it more or less than the similar name Donna (which was also popularized in the late ’50s by a young man singing about his crush)?

Sources: