The baby name Dior signals luxury and drama, but are the ties to the fashion house a plus or a problem?
Thanks to Molly for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME DIOR MEAN?
The baby name Dior started out as a surname.
It comes from the French word doré meaning “golden.” Or possibly d’or, meaning “of gold.”
Some suggest it was an occupational surname for a goldsmith or someone who worked with the precious metal.
But color names often refer to distinguishing features. The surname Dior might have been given to anyone with blonde hair.
All of those meanings are secondary, though. Thanks to the iconic French fashion house, the baby name Dior signals something different. Sophistication and elegance, the hallmarks of the world-changing designer, perhaps.
CHRISTIAN DIOR
Born in 1905 to an affluent family, Christian Dior’s parents hoped he’d pursue a career in diplomacy. Their son’s interests always leaned artistic. Christian initially operated a small art gallery, moving in the same circles as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali in 1920s Paris.
The Great Depression took its toll on the family’s finances. Dior ended up selling sketches. He caught the eye of designer Robert Piguet, and eventually designed well-received clothing for Piguet’s collections.
Dior left Piguet to serve in the military. When he returned to Paris, he worked for other designers before securing backing to launch his own house in 1946. In February of 1947, he presented his first collection.
Officially called Corolle – circlet of flower petals – it was quickly dubbed the New Look by the press.
“New” implies uniqueness and innovation, but in many ways the designs were a throwback – full skirts, nipped-in tiny waists. But after years of austerity during the war, the designer’s approach felt fresh and inspiring.
Christian Dior quickly rose to international prominence. His name remains a fashion house today, long after his death in 1957. He’s credited with restoring Paris to the center of the fashion design industry.
MISS DIOR
The fashion house is also known for its perfumes. Signature scent Miss Dior was first introduced in 1947.
It’s said to be named for Christian’s sister, Catherine.
Catherine Dior retreated from Paris with her parents during the Great Depression. She became a gardener. During the war, she risked her life as a member of the French Resistance – and eventually faced arrest, torture, and deportation to the Ravensbruck concentration camp.
She survived, and after the war, Dior focused on flowers: trading and growing them.
It’s said that the floral perfume Miss Dior was named for Catherine.
LUXURY BRANDS AS BABY NAMES
Contemporary naming trends favor surname names, but also luxury brands. Children are named Chanel and Armani. Dior fits right in.
But it’s more than just the luxe vibe of the baby name Dior. The sound fit, too.
- When it was first used, in small numbers, during the 1970s, De- names were having a moment. Deanna and Deanne for girls; Deandre. Deshawn, and Demarcus for boys.
- Over time, we came to love R-ending names for baby girls. Taylor gave way to Harper, but the style persists.
Golden surname Dior simply sounded like a brand, but a brand that could wear well as a given name.
FAMOUS PEOPLE NAMED DIOR
A handful of notables have answered to the name, including:
- Poet Dior J. Stephens
- Actress Dior Goodjohn, currently known as Clarisse in the Percy Jackson series. She is literally named after the Dior store in Paris.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME DIOR?
The baby name Dior debuted in US popularity data in the year 1977, with six births.
For decades, parents considered it in small numbers.
And then came 2018. The baby name Dior had a big year. It doubled in use for girls, from 170 to 344 births. For boys, the rise was even more dramatic, from 27 to 73 births.
Dior debuted in the girl’s Top 1000 at #793 in 2018 and peaked at #499 in 2020.
As of 2024, Dior fell to #983 for girls. 145 boys also received the name.
The name spent a handful of years in the boys’ Top 1000, too, but remains more popular for our daughters.
TOLKEIN
How’s this for a fun fact? In JRR Tolkein’s Silmarillion, Dior is the son of Beren and Luthien. It’s not the only time the author used the name. Apparently, he intended it to mean “successor” in an older form of his Sindarin language.
It adds an interesting literary layer of meaning to the name. Odds are that nearly no one choosing the name for their child is thinking of Middle Earth – but it’s possible.
21ST CENTURY MOMENT
The baby name Dior feels very much like a 21st century choice. A surname name wrapped in luxury, it’s grand and dramatic. But it’s also instantly familiar, vaguely unisex, and very much in-step with how we name now.
What do you think of the baby name Dior?
