The name Dian is of Chinese origin and means shining or bright. Dian is also a variant of the name Diana, which is derived from the Latin name Diana, the goddess of the hunt and the moon. In some African cultures, Dian is a name given to girls born on a Monday. Dian is a popular name in Indonesia, where it is pronounced dee-an. Dian is also a surname in some cultures, such as in China and Korea. Dian has been used as a given name in the United States since the late 19th century, with its popularity peaking in the 1960s and 1970s. Dian is a unisex name, although it is more commonly given to girls. Dian has been associated with several positive traits, including intelligence, kindness, and grace. Dian has been used as a shortened form of longer names starting with D, such as Diana or Donna. Dian has been featured in various forms of media, such as in the novel The Dian Fossey Story by Farley Mowat, and in the film Dian Fossey: Secrets in the Mist.

The root form of Dian is Dian — meaning Divine, heavenly, shining, luminous..

Dian remains a beloved choice, ranking #16 in the US. Timeless appeal across cultures and generations.