- Origin: French
- Usage: English
- Gender: Unisex
- First Est. 1970s
A name synonymous with French luxury and refinement, it is from the transferred use of the French surname. The surname itself is from Normandy, particular to Savigny where the Dior family originated. It is from a 16th-century typographical error of the patronymic surname Diot, which is a Medieval diminutive form of Denis.
Modern name sites often claim that Dior relates to the French word doré (“golden”) or the noun or (“gold”), likely influenced by the glamorous association with the fashion house. While this resemblance is phonetically appealing, it is not etymologically accurate. The historical record supports the Diot → Dior evolution rather than a direct link to doré.
Its use as a given-name is directly influenced by the brand and is currently only used in English-speaking counties. It is common among African-Americans, but has been occasionally used among other ethnic groups. It first came into use in the 1970s.
The name entered the U.S. popularity charts for both males and females in 2018. It is currently the 983rd most popular female and hasn’t appeared in the top 1000 male names since 2022.
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