It is a variant of the name Diana apparently created in 1936 as a stage name for actress and singer Deanna Durbin, whose given name was originally Edna Mae.

[1] The name was among the top 1,000 names in use for newborn American girls between 1936 and 2013.

Its greatest use was between 1938 and 1941, when it was among the top 150 names for girls, and between 1969 and 1971, when it was among the top 100 names for newborn American girls.

It was a top 100 name for girls in Canada between 1937 and 1941 and again between 1969 and 1973.

It was also among the top 1,000 names for girls in the United Kingdom at different points until 2008.