Where does the name Diane come from?

Answer 1

Diane is a French version of the old Latin name Diana. This name is of uncertain origin, though its roots are very old and may come from the same origin as the name Jupiter, king of the gods. In roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of the moon. She was also the goddess of hunting (like the ancient Greek goddess Artemis.) Diana lived in the forest with her maidens; she was pictured as a beautiful virgin, and men who tried to approach her or harm her favorite animals were punished.

Other versions of this name include Dianne and (especially in the US) Dyan. At one time the name Diane was more popular in Britain than Diana, but the Latin name became more common again due to the popularity of the late Princess Diana.