Names › Girls' names › D › Daphne

Daphne

Meaning: laurel tree · Origin: Greek · Gender: usually a girl's name

Origin & history

Greek for 'laurel'. In myth the nymph Daphne was turned into a laurel tree to escape Apollo.

Famous people named Daphne

Daphne du Maurier (novelist)

Nicknames

Daph

Variants & related names

Dafne, Dafni

Daphne name art

A free preview of a printable “Daphne” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.

Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.

FAQ

What does the name Daphne mean?

Daphne means “laurel tree”. It comes from Greek.

Is Daphne a popular name?

Yes — Daphne has been one of the most popular girls' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.

What are nicknames for Daphne?

Daph.

What are other forms of Daphne?

Dafne, Dafni.

Similar names

Ophelia · Selena · Tessa · Thea · Evangeline · Kate

More: names starting with D · all girls' names

Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.