Believe it or not, Diamond is a legitimate name, it has been in use as a female given name across Europe since at least early Medieval Times, and it also has its slew of masculine forms.
The name ultimately comes from the Ancient Greek ἀδάμας adámas, meaning “unbreakable,” “proper,” or “unalterable.” It has been used among the Greeks in the form of Adamantine (f) and Adamantos (m) since Ancient Times. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed if worn, the diamond was a ward against evil.
In 13th-century England, there are records for women named Diamanda (the vernacular for most likely being the Anglo-Norman, Diamant). Its usage seemed to have died out by the 15th-century, but was revived once again during the Victorian Era.
In Italy, Diamante was a popular female name between the 13th and 18th-centuries. Notable examples include the Italian poet, Diamante Medaglia Faini (1724-1770) and Italian opera singer, Diamante Maria Scarabelli (1675-1725).
And of course, there is the traditional Arabic female name of Almas (diamond), which has been used across the Islamic world for centuries.
In the United States, Diamond appeared in the U.S. Top 1000 between 2000 and 2014 and peaked at #162 in 2000.
Other forms include:
- Diamant (Anglo-Norman)
- Almast Ալմաստ (Armenian)
- Admantia Αδαμαντία (Greek)
- Admantine (Greek/French)
- Diamantō Διαμαντω (Greek)
- Almas (Arabic)
- Intan (Indonesian)
- Diamanda (Late Latin)
- Adamantis (Latin)
- Diamantina Διαμαντινα (Greek/Italian)
- Deimantė (Lithuanian)
- Elmas (Turkish)
Masculine forms
- Adamantios Αδαμάντιος (Greek)
- Diamantino (Italian)
- Adamantius (Latin)
- Deimantas (Lithuanian)
Sources