Diletta

Origin and meaning of Diletta

Diletta comes from the Latin dilecta, past participle of diligere, 'to love, to cherish': it therefore means 'beloved, favourite'. It is an affectionate, radiant name that expresses all a parent's love for the awaited child. Typically Italian in tone and literary in flavour, it is used mainly in Italy, where it has enjoyed steady popularity in recent decades. Rare abroad, it keeps an intimate, gently old-fashioned charm.