NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Dia

A girl's name derived from Spanish meaning "day".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Dia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Dia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2253, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 18 births.

This profile covers 226 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 2003 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 225 living people in the UK are called Dia. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Dia ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2014, when 18 girls were registered as Dia.
  • About 225 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2253

2024

Births in 2024

12

Latest year

Peak year

2014

18 births

Estimated living

225

2026

Meaning

What does Dia mean?

The name Dia has its origins in several ancient cultures and languages. It is derived from the Latin word "deus," meaning "god" or "deity." This connects the name to the Roman pantheon of gods and goddesses.

In Greek mythology, Dia was one of the Oceanids, the three thousand daughters of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. According to legend, she was one of the ocean nymphs who presided over the freshwater sources on Earth.

The name Dia can also be traced back to the Sanskrit word "diya," which means "light" or "lamp." This linguistic connection ties the name to the concept of illumination and spiritual enlightenment in ancient Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dia dates back to the 5th century BCE. Dia was the name of a Greek woman who was a devoted follower of the philosopher Socrates. She is mentioned in Plato's dialogues as being present during some of Socrates' famous discourses.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Dia. In the 1st century CE, Dia Chrysostom was a renowned Greek philosopher and orator from Prusa, Bithynia. She was known for her eloquent speeches and teachings on moral philosophy.

In the 12th century, Dia al-Kahina was a Berber queen and military leader who fought against the Arab conquest of North Africa. She is celebrated as a symbol of resistance and courage in Berber and Algerian history.

During the Renaissance period, Dia Raphael was an Italian painter and the daughter of the renowned artist Raphael Sanzio. She was born in 1520 and is believed to have inherited her father's artistic talents.

In the 19th century, Dia Evelyn was an English poet and writer. She was born in 1855 and published several volumes of poetry that explored themes of nature, love, and spirituality.

Another notable figure named Dia was Dia Abbot, an American activist and feminist who lived from 1892 to 1968. She was a prominent figure in the women's suffrage movement and fought for equal rights and social justice.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Dia over time

The chart below shows babies named Dia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Dia, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 18 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Dia
0591418200320132024

Decades

Dia by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dia was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #2312 59 5
2010s #2422 119 10
2000s #3224 48 7

Related

Names similar to Dia

FAQ

Dia: questions and answers

How popular is the name Dia in the UK right now?

In 2024, Dia was ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.

When was Dia most popular?

The peak year on record was 2014, with 18 babies registered as Dia in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Dia?

A girl's name derived from Spanish meaning "day".

How many people are called Dia in the UK?

A total of 226 babies have been registered as Dia across the 22 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.