Fun Facts About the Name Dian
- More than 5 thousand babies named Dian: U.S. records list 5,577 babies given the name Dian from 1880 through 2025. Even 209 boys received the name Dian - about 1 boy for every 26 girls.
What Does the Name Dian Mean?
Dian is an Indonesian and Malay feminine name meaning "candle" or "oil lamp," from the word dian. The word refers to a small lamp used for light; calling the name "light" is a symbolic extension, while the literal sense is the lamp or candle.
A separate English name, Dian, is a short form of Diane, the French form of Diana. Diana is the Roman goddess of the hunt and the moon. The Latin origin of Diana is uncertain; the common explanation that it means "divine" or "heavenly" is a traditional interpretation rather than a settled etymology.
Dian Name History & Origins
In Indonesia and Malaysia, Dian is a given name taken from the ordinary word for a candle or oil lamp. The word belongs to Malay and Indonesian, and the name is used in both countries. It is not a form of the Western name Diana.
The English Dian developed separately as a shortened form of Diane, which entered English from French. Diane is the French form of Diana, the name of the Roman goddess of the hunt, the moon, and childbirth. Diana was used in European literature and later as a given name; Dian is much less common than Diane or Diana and is best treated as a short form rather than as an ancient name in its own right.
How Popular is the Name Dian?
Dian recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1946. Its best rank was #459 in 1946.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | #17,169 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #15,768 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #18,390 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #12,140 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #10,928 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #14,366 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #14,015 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #11,016 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #11,712 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #8,773 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #11,168 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1996 | #10,881 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #10,824 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #10,885 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #8,232 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #6,749 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1991 | #7,553 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #10,517 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #8,222 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #5,120 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1987 | #4,165 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1986 | #5,250 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1985 | #6,142 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #4,204 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1983 | #4,731 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1982 | #3,551 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1981 | #5,649 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #6,018 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1979 | #4,899 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1978 | #6,059 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #5,604 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1976 | #4,204 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #4,412 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1974 | #3,735 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1973 | #2,773 | 25 | 0.0017% |
| 1972 | #2,990 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1971 | #2,186 | 37 | 0.0022% |
| 1970 | #2,052 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 1969 | #2,035 | 38 | 0.0023% |
| 1968 | #1,782 | 44 | 0.0027% |
| 1967 | #1,466 | 58 | 0.0035% |
| 1966 | #1,371 | 64 | 0.0038% |
| 1965 | #1,327 | 68 | 0.0039% |
| 1964 | #1,322 | 72 | 0.0038% |
| 1963 | #1,221 | 81 | 0.0042% |
| 1962 | #1,168 | 88 | 0.0045% |
| 1961 | #1,109 | 98 | 0.0049% |
| 1960 | #1,048 | 105 | 0.0052% |
| 1959 | #896 | 135 | 0.0067% |
| 1958 | #884 | 133 | 0.0066% |
| 1957 | #871 | 136 | 0.0067% |
| 1956 | #831 | 142 | 0.0071% |
| 1955 | #818 | 140 | 0.0072% |
| 1954 | #749 | 153 | 0.0079% |
| 1953 | #675 | 178 | 0.0095% |
| 1952 | #745 | 142 | 0.0077% |
| 1951 | #610 | 198 | 0.0110% |
| 1950 | #637 | 180 | 0.0105% |
| 1949 | #600 | 189 | 0.0110% |
| 1948 | #591 | 199 | 0.0117% |
| 1947 | #541 | 242 | 0.0137% |
| 1946 | #459 | 287 | 0.0183% |
| 1945 | #522 | 196 | 0.0150% |
| 1944 | #552 | 173 | 0.0130% |
| 1943 | #536 | 196 | 0.0140% |
| 1942 | #530 | 196 | 0.0145% |
| 1941 | #529 | 175 | 0.0145% |
| 1940 | #630 | 125 | 0.0109% |
| 1939 | #603 | 125 | 0.0114% |
| 1938 | #650 | 111 | 0.0101% |
| 1937 | #911 | 57 | 0.0054% |
| 1936 | #1,054 | 44 | 0.0042% |
| 1935 | #1,041 | 44 | 0.0042% |
| 1934 | #1,050 | 44 | 0.0042% |
| 1933 | #960 | 51 | 0.0051% |
| 1932 | #915 | 59 | 0.0055% |
| 1931 | #1,896 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1930 | #1,540 | 26 | 0.0023% |
| 1929 | #2,468 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1928 | #2,653 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1927 | #3,954 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1926 | #3,646 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1925 | #3,759 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1924 | #4,590 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #4,512 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1912 | #3,076 | 5 | 0.0009% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,310 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #5,484 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2023 | #7,390 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #5,490 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2021 | #8,335 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #4,741 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2019 | #8,371 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #8,324 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #9,055 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #9,052 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #8,953 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #12,618 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #12,746 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #9,902 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #9,003 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #8,472 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #6,857 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #11,290 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #11,820 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #11,337 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #11,024 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #8,766 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #8,540 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1952 | #3,865 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Dian Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Dian's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Dian's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.