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Deanna

Girl name · 71 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Deanna: 71 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 11 births in 1994.

Deanna emerged in the 20th century as a variant of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt and moon, ultimately derived from the Latin word *divus* meaning "divine." It also occasionally serves as a feminine form of Dean, from the Old English *denu* meaning "valley." The most famous bearer is the luminous American actress Deanna Durbin, whose soaring soprano and wholesome charm made her one of Hollywood's highest-paid stars in the 1930s and 1940s, a favourite of wartime audiences. There is a town called Deanna in the Australian state of Queensland, though its naming origins are unclear. In Scotland, Deanna saw a moderate burst of popularity in the 1970s and 80s, often considered a softer, more romantic sister to the crisper Diana.