I like [name]Diana[/name] in the fn spot & either in the mn spot depending on flow with the fn choice. I don’t think it’s dated especially in a combo with a name that’s more popular or up-and-coming today. Like [name]Chloe[/name] [name]Dianne[/name] is very cute & modern while [name]Heather[/name] [name]Diana[/name] sounds pretty but feels like a 30 something to me. I think [name]Annie[/name] is sweet, but I associate it with [name]Anne[/name] or [name]Anabel[/name] so if I met [name]Annie[/name] at the park & found out she was [name]Dianna[/name] I would think it’s a little strange to abandon the strong first syllable. I think [name]Dinah[/name], [name]Di[/name], [name]Dannie[/name], or [name]Ann[/name]/[name]Annie[/name] all work though. [name]One[/name] [name]Diana[/name] I know goes by [name]Yan[/name] so anything goes right!
[name]Diane[/name]/[name]Dianne[/name] is the preferred, classier name and sounds much fresher now than [name]Diana[/name], which is passé and very '80s, in my opinion. [name]Diana[/name]'s popularity is too recent; [name]Diane[/name]/[name]Dianne[/name] has had time to finely ripen, like so many other classic names coming back “in.” The trend now is toward the shorter, non-“a” versions of names, such as [name]Olive[/name] vs. [name]Olivia[/name] (and other non-“a” names in general). More to the point, more relevant! Today’s little girl often has no time for a superfluous “a” in her name. She’s got too much spunk! In the 2011 film “[name]Peace[/name], [name]Love[/name], and Misunderstanding,” the main character is a woman named [name]Diane[/name] who keeps correcting people (like her hippie mother) who want to call her [name]Diana[/name], because she’s much more sophisticated than to be a [name]Diana[/name]. She’s an urbane attorney and would never put up with being called a frivolous [name]Diana[/name]. A girl named [name]Diane[/name]/[name]Dianne[/name] is stylish, smart, strong, and knows where she’s going.
I think it’s a classic name despite being a little dated. I prefer [name]Diana[/name] over [name]Diane[/name]. I also like the spelling [name]Dianna[/name].
i think [name]Diane[/name] is definitely dated and [name]Diana[/name] is less so but still is a bit. But if you love it adn want to use to honor someone then do it - and [name]Annie[/name] is not dated at all. If you think that [name]Annie[/name] still honors your family then there are other first names that you could use with the nn - [name]Anneliese[/name], [name]Anabel[/name] etc - but not sure if that works.
I prefer [name]Diana[/name] to [name]Diane[/name]. I’ve considered it, but relegated it to my long list because for me it lacks …zip. Wonderful name though. I wouldn’t say it’s dated. Like [name]Helena[/name], it’s a simple, balanced, strong, goddess name. It always makes me think of the St Gaudens statue of [name]Diana[/name] drawing her bow. I like Taz’s suggestion of [name]Dinah[/name] - another good one, but you miss out on [name]Annie[/name].
[name]Lottie[/name] is excellent. I like it spelled [name]Lotte[/name], like the divine [name]Lotte[/name] Lenya. I’ve always pronounced it the same way as [name]Lottie[/name], but I may be wrong. If you dislike [name]Charlotte[/name], but want a more formal option, there’s [name]Liselotte[/name], [name]Carlotta[/name]… And maybe it’s a stretch, but I think you could get [name]Lotte[/name] from [name]Clothilde[/name]/[name]Clotilde[/name] ("[name]Clo[/name]-TEELD") or [name]Clotilda[/name] ("[name]Clo[/name]-[name]TIL[/name]-dah" I like this one- has the spunk of [name]Chloe[/name] and [name]Mathilda[/name] without the popularity.)