The name Dixie is an Anglicized form of the French word "Dix", meaning "ten". It emerged in the early 19th century as a nickname for the southern states of the United States, referring to the Ten Dollar banknote issued by Citizens' Bank in New Orleans. The term was popularized by the song "Dixie's Land", written in 1859 by Daniel Decatur Emmett.

This nickname for the southern states eventually led to the name Dixie being used as a given name, primarily for girls. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Dixie being used as a first name is Dixie Willson, an American actress born in 1892. Another notable individual with the name Dixie is Dixie Bibb Graves, the 38th Governor of Alabama, who was born in 1882 and served from 1927 to 1931.

In literature, the name Dixie appears in the novel "Dixie City" by Carolyn Haines, published in 2005. The book's protagonist, Dixie Malloy, is a private investigator based in Mississippi.

Among historical figures, Dixie Lee, born in 1911, was an American dancer and singer who appeared in several Hollywood films in the 1930s and 1940s. She was also the second wife of singer and actor Bing Crosby.

Another notable individual with the name Dixie was Dixie Gamble, an American professional wrestling manager and former wife of wrestler Bunkhouse Buck. She was born in 1941 and managed wrestlers such as Terry Funk and Stan Hansen during her career.

While the name Dixie is predominantly associated with the southern United States, it has also been used in other parts of the world, though less commonly. The name's origins can be traced back to the French language, but its use as a given name is largely an American phenomenon, stemming from the nickname for the southern states.