Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Diedre

Diedre

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Diedre

Pronounced DEE-druh /ˈdiː.drə/Medium

Meaning: Diedre is a variant spelling of Deirdre, the tragic heroine of Irish legend whose name is traditionally interpreted as 'sorrowful' (and sometimes 'broken-hearted' or 'raging'). The -ied- reordering is a common Anglicized attempt at Deirdre's tricky vowels; the meaning and sound are those of the original.Medium

In 30 seconds: Diedre (said 'DEE-druh') is a respelling of the Irish Deirdre — 'sorrowful' — the name of a legendary heroine, smoothed for English eyes.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumIrish
MeaningDiedre is a variant spelling of Deirdre, the tragic heroine of Irish legend whose name is traditionally interpreted as 'sorrowful' (and sometimes 'broken-hearted' or 'raging'). The -ied- reordering is a common Anglicized attempt at Deirdre's tricky vowels; the meaning and sound are those of the original.
U.S. rank (1999)#15071 ↘ Falling
1999 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1964
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,795

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196419441999

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Diedre is one of the Anglicized spellings of Deirdre, an Irish name tied to the legendary Deirdre of the Sorrows and long glossed as 'sorrowful.' Irish names spread in mid-century America, and Deirdre's variants came with them. Diedre appears from the 1940s, peaked around 1964, and faded by the end of the century.

A Diedre from the mid-sixties peak is now in her sixties, giving it a mother-era feel. The name carries genuine mythic weight, but this particular spelling reads as a period Anglicization rather than a revival, and namers today usually restore the classic Deirdre. It pairs well with siblings like Sean or Maureen and offers the soft nickname Dee.

Did you know? Behind Diedre stands Deirdre of the Sorrows, a doomed beauty of Irish myth whose story was retold on the Abbey Theatre stage — one of the great tragic names of Celtic legend.
Overall data confidence 62%
References — Diedre — Respelling of Deirdre (Irish 'sorrowful'); c.1964 peak

Variations

DeirdreDiedraDeidre

Nicknames

DeeDidi

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Diedre…

Deirdre— the traditional Irish spelling Diedre varies
Audra— a like soft two-beat -dra girl's name
Sandra— a same-era -dra name of similar rhythm
Moira— another Irish girl's name of the tradition

Explore names like Diedre

By themerespellingirishmythic

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Diedre mean?

Diedre is a variant of Deirdre, an Irish name from legend usually interpreted as 'sorrowful.'

How do you pronounce Diedre?

It's said DEE-druh /ˈdiː.drə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Diedre a boy or girl name?

Diedre is used as a girl's name, always as a girl's name.

How popular is Diedre?

Diedre was an uncommon spelling that peaked in the mid-sixties and has been rare since, behind the standard Deirdre.

💬 Ask Nia