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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Diana

28 replies

LuciaRose · 30/11/2009 15:06

Would you use this name? I know it has strong connotations of Princess Diana and her tragic death, but it does have such a classic elegance about it? I'd love to know your opinions.

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Tortington · 30/11/2009 15:08

its not classic in the slightest.

its ver 60's/early 70's disco

that we had a chufin princess named it made me piss at the time.

Tortington · 30/11/2009 15:09

i mean i know its origins are obviously much much earlier - but in the scheme of things - classic no.

cakeywakey · 30/11/2009 15:11

I like it when it's pronounced Deeana.

It is classic, as in Diana the Huntress from Roman mythology, but is very closely associated with 'Princess' now.

dizietsma · 30/11/2009 15:15

I always think of the goddess Diana, and being a bit of a neo-pagan love the name for that association.

I think it's been a while since Diana was popular, might be due a comeback. Certainly it would stand out amongst the all the Emmas, Freyas, Rubys, Olivias and Sophies.

MaggieBelle · 30/11/2009 15:17

well, it's as classic as isabella imo. it's just associated with older women now. i think lady diana was young for a diana. my mum knows a few who are in their mid 60s.

right now, i would find it an interesting choice, not one i would have made myself, but by the time women who were under 4 or 5 when Diana died grow up and have children then it will seem iconic and classic... not strange... and royalist!

NorbertDentressangle · 30/11/2009 15:18

I know of a Diana who must be about 3 now and I still can't get past the "princess" connection.

I agree with Custy that it doesn't strike me as a classic name, probably for the above reason

LuciaRose · 30/11/2009 15:21

That is interesting - I never saw it as a seventies name! I guess most Dianas are of a certain age. It will probably have its comeback in about ten years time, but just not yet.

OP posts:
BettyButterknife · 30/11/2009 15:34

I think of the goddess too. I really like it, but I'm not a royalist by any stretch so would find it hard to name a DD Diana.

Shame, think it's really elegant and strong.

dizzydixies · 30/11/2009 16:13

I'm not that keen either but I'm not sure how it compares with Isabella either

TakeLovingChances · 30/11/2009 17:21

I think it's a nice enough name. I wouldn't choose it for my own DD, but it is nice.

I work with a lovely woman called Diana, she's in her early 30s and the name suits her well.

The only problem is people seem to keep calling her Diane. It doesn't seem to annoy her, but if it was me I'd get annoyed!!

MamaLazarou · 30/11/2009 17:46

QUEEN OF ALL OUR HEARTS

mrsvwoolf · 30/11/2009 18:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pingpong · 30/11/2009 18:59

I don't consider it 60s/early 70s in the least. Most of the Diana's I know are my Mum's age so late 1940s and I know one Diana who is a 70s baby.
I do think of it as a classic name as in Diana the huntress.
Dinah is way too old lady!

bellissima · 30/11/2009 19:07

To us it's all about a princess - but dd1 (10) has vaguely heard of her and DD2 (6) wouldn't really know who you were talking about. I think of it as more 40s/50s than 60s - I think Diana Spencer was just given a rather old-fashioned name. Don't love it - prefer Lydia or Julia if we are in that vein - or even Pamela (but hate Pam) - but Diana is okay.

Jujubean77 · 30/11/2009 19:11

I like it

pollydianasmummy · 30/11/2009 19:15

My daughter's middle name is Diana - I love it.

MaggieBelle · 30/11/2009 19:16

isabella was just a name that came to mind that is in fashion right now. It is classic, but part of what makes it seem classic is its popularity. Tbh, i see Diana as being in the same vein, ie, classic-ish, BUT not in fashion right now. Does that make sense? I could just as easily have said Olivia.

SouthernMeerkat · 30/11/2009 19:18

I really like it - it's my grandmother's name so I think of her before I think of Princess Diana, and it is a name from mythology. I also disagree with those saying it's a 70s name. I was born in the 70s and don't know anyone with the name - at my (private) school there were hundreds of Sarahs, Sophias, Isabellas, Marias etc but no Dianas. Conversely, I've had two secretaries called Diane - and they were both of a late 60s vintage.

IslingtonDi · 30/11/2009 19:31

Early 70s disco???

BaronessBarbaraKingstanding · 30/11/2009 21:08

Still too near to princess Di. a gerat name but needs another 50 yrs for it's big comeback as a timeless classic.

lolianja · 30/11/2009 21:24

I love it.

It's not my usual style but I really wanted it for my first (who turned out to be a boy anyway) and my partner at the time liked it too but just couldn't deal with the number of people who instantly made a remark about Lady Di and/or Diana Ross whenever one of us mentioned it.

Thing is, people are only going to have connotations spring to mind when the baby is only a bump, ie a hypothetical person. When they become a real person it becomes 'their' name. I shudder and laugh and sink my head into my hands over loads of names suggested on here but when I think about it, I know people with far more bizarre/cruel/ugly names in real life and I don't bat an eyelid (within reason) because the name is just their name and doesn't seem nearly so bizarre when it's attached to a person, rather than being judged in & of itself, IYSWIM.

skihorse · 01/12/2009 10:37

I really like it and have always associated it with "goddess". 70s? I know a lovely mid-30s Diana.

Pingpong · 01/12/2009 15:47

but skihorse if they are in their mid 30s then they were born in the 70s, non?

skihorse · 01/12/2009 16:06

Smac Mais, bien sur - but I took it to mean more of Margot Ledbetter's generation...

I think calling it "70s" is very derogatory - and shows a distinct lack of knowledge with respect to the origins of the name.

SomeWhereOverTheRainbow4 · 01/12/2009 16:11

I love the name Diana, I definately don't think it's too 70's, I know a few little Diana's and I think it's a Beautiful name! x