Diane
Diane is the French form of Diana, the Roman goddess of the moon, hunting, and chastity. The name comes from the Latin "divus" or "diviana," meaning divine or heavenly. In Roman mythology, Diana was the equivalent of the Greek Artemis — the virgin huntress who roamed the forests. The cult of Diana was one of the most important in ancient Rome. Diane peaked at #14 in 1951 and stayed in the top 50 through the 1960s. The most famous bearer is Diane Keaton (born 1946), the actress known for "Annie Hall" (1977) and a string of Woody Allen films. Diane Arbus (1923-1971), the photographer, is one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Diane (the Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legend, in some versions) gave the name a mythic dimension. I find Diane has a slightly more elegant sound than Diana — the single "n" ending gives it French sophistication. The name has been outside the US top 500 since 2013. The "Di" opening was ubiquitous in mid-century America (Diane, Diana, Dinah), but the cluster has now faded. Diane is a female name of Latin / French origin that means "Divine, heavenly (from Diana)". Mid-century, elegant, and composed. The name sounds classic. Dianes tend to be artistic. US peaked #14 in 1951. Outside top 500 since 2013. Well-known people named Diane include Diane Keaton (actress), Diane Arbus (photographer), Diane Lane (actress), Diane (Roman goddess, via Diana). Common variations and related forms of Diane include Diana (Latin form), Dianne (variant), Dayanara (Spanish), Diana (Italian).