Why isn't Diana a popular name?

[feelingmellow]

Diana was such a popular princess that I would have thought more children would have been named after her. Its not as if it's not a nice name either.

[AliciaBotty]

I knew one. She was a twin. The twin was called Camilla.

You will think I'm making this up. I swear it's true. I was in a Gymboree class with them - they weren't British.

[meringue33]

I think it's a lovely name and its a family name for us too. But DH wouldn't hear of it due to the royal associations.

[burgatroyd]

I don't like the nn Di

[RedToothBrush]

Who was she popular with? I'd hazard a guess and say, it was more with older people than people under 35. Why would you name your daughter something that was associated with a horrific death?

[queenofthemountain]

I dunno, she was a bit of a flake wasn't she?

[Salmotrutta]

I actually prefer Diane to Diana but they are both nice names.

[feelingmellow]

Red tooth I meant before she died. I wasn't a particular fan but of hers but she was definitely very popular as a young woman

[LittleBearPad]

But that was in the eighties/early nineties. I was between 2 and 18 when she was in the public eye. I wouldn't have thought if calling dd after her.

[DrFunkesFamilyBandSolution]

I love the name but Dirty Diana puts me off more than Princess Di!

[Castlemilk]

I like it a lot, but there's no good nickname option - think the thought of being called Di puts a lot of people off.

[Sophronia]

I like it but I prefer Dinah.

[clary]

It's just a bit dated isn't it - of my era (she was about 3 years older than me) - so not likely to be any more popular than similar-age names like Karen, Nicola, Joanne, Mandy, Angela, Tricia, Susan (lol! Just went down my high school register there ).

JMO of course. And surely any babies named after her would be in their 20s/30s by now?

[badtime]

I love the name Diana, but I found the princess very annoying, so I would be horrified if anyone thought I was making reference to her.

[birdofthenorth]

I think it's a really beautiful name. Di may not be a nice nn but DeeDee is.

It's not popular because it's so synonyms with one woman who for all the fame and fortune was clearly extremely troubled, lived a very difficult life and died a horrible death. Not really the immediate associations most parents want, though once a new baby Diana was born those who knew her would pretty quickly drop the royal associations.

[TEACUP123]

I know one little Diana now aged 6. When she was born, I was very surprised by the name choice! But everyone got used to it pretty quickly. One of the nicknames is "Princess" :-)

[KoalaDownUnder]

I know a few Dianas, but they are all over 40.

Unfortunately, the nickname Di is inevitable and it's horrible.

[aquashiv]

She was popular with the press but people aren't as lead by the RF as much are they? I wouldn't say its a popular name its rather dated.

[Floop]

I love Diana. Never having another, but I'd seriously consider it.

[MackerelOfFact]

I know a little Diana, she must be about 4 or 5.

I think when a name is very strongly associated with one particular person, it's hard for others to carry off.

[Hulababy]

My sister was born in 1982, about a week after prince William. Her middle name is Dinah - after our great grandma - but the hospital staff were convinced it was Diana after the princess. They kept trying to tell my mum she was saying/spelling it wrong!

Maybe some 30 somethings have it as middle names? I don't know anyone with the name at all though, of any ages.

[MaryWestmacott]

Well, she wasn't very popular before her death, even if as a society we've all taken part in some sort of mass "forgetting" once she died tragically - the papers were full of insults to her in the weeks prior to her death, and the mirror my dad bought on the day of her death had time to change the front few pages, but the comment articles still had stuff about how she was a national embarrassment and if the rumours were true she was thinking of moving to New York, all the better and good riddens to her... Later additions didn't have them and were full of how wonderful and universally loved she was.

Anyway, I know quite a few Diana's and Diane's, they are all in their 50s/60s.