Find out how popular the first name Di has been for the last 19 years (from 1981 to 1999) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Di by gender

Based on the last 19 years of data, Di is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 63% of people named Di being female.

For the most recent data in 1999, there were 8 male babies and 7 female babies born with the name Di.

It's also interesting to see that despite Di being historically a mostly female name, the most recent data from 1999 shows a shift in the trend, with more male babies being named Di.

The history of the first name Di

The name Di is a diminutive form of the name Diana, which has its origins in the ancient Roman mythology. Diana was the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and nature, and her name is derived from the ancient Roman word "dius," meaning "divine" or "heavenly." The name Di is believed to have been used as a shortened form of Diana as early as the 2nd century AD in the Roman Empire.

The earliest recorded use of the name Di can be traced back to the 4th century AD, when it appeared in various inscriptions and historical records from the Roman era. One notable example is Saint Digna, a 4th-century Christian martyr from Córdoba, Spain, whose name is believed to be a variant of Di.

Throughout history, the name Di has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the earliest was Di Renjie (630-700 AD), a Chinese statesman and scholar-official during the Tang Dynasty, renowned for his contributions to administrative reforms and his literary works.

Another noteworthy figure was Di Baramikusa (c. 800 AD), a medieval Buddhist scholar and translator from the Gandhara region (modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan), who played a crucial role in the transmission of Buddhist texts to China and Japan.

In the 15th century, Di Battista Alberti (1404-1472), an Italian Renaissance humanist, author, and architect, made significant contributions to the development of architectural theory and practice, including the design of the Palazzo Rucellai in Florence.

During the Italian Renaissance, the name Di was also associated with the renowned artist and sculptor, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475-1564), commonly known as Michelangelo. His artistic masterpieces, such as the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the sculpture of David, are among the most celebrated works of art in the world.

In more recent times, Di Xian (1923-2011), a Chinese mathematician and computer scientist, is renowned for his contributions to the development of computer science in China and his pioneering work in the field of computer graphics.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Di was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Di, please contact us.

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