Daphne
Daphne is a feminine given name of Greek origin meaning laurel. It originates from Greek mythology, where Daphne was a naiad – a variety of female nymph associated with fountains, springs, streams, and other bodies of freshwater – who was turned into a laurel tree to save her from Apollo's advances.
Meaning & Origin of Daphne
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Daphne is a feminine given name of Greek origin meaning laurel. It originates from Greek mythology, where Daphne was a naiad – a variety of female nymph associated with fountains, springs, streams, and other bodies of freshwater – who was turned into a laurel tree to save her from Apollo's advances.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Daphne
Daphne first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1886, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 1,672 Daphnes were born — ranking #184 that year. As of 2026, Daphne ranks #184 for baby girls with 1,672 births, rising sharply (+71% over the past five years). In total, more than 46K Daphnes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Daphne
Phonetically similar names — useful when Daphne is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Daphne
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About the name Daphne
Daphne is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1886 and has accumulated 46K births in the dataset. Daphne's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #184. Use the chart and map above to compare Daphne's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
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Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.