The name of Dikirnis dates back to the days of old Coptic Egypt when it was known as Der Kens (Kens Monastery), referring to a famous monk called Kens who settled at Dikirnis Church, one of the oldest churches in Egypt.  Balah Hill, located near Dikirnis in the nearby hills, has a distinguished history because it was part of the old city called Dablala. Its name was then changed to Tabala, then to Tabla.

Many important monuments have been excavated from this hill and are now on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Balah Hill is about one kilometer from Dikirnis Train Station, on the way to Mīt Fares village and the tombs of Ashmon El-Roman, which are three kilometers from Dikirnis.