Daphne Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Daphne originates from Greek, meaning 'laurel'. It has evolved through various forms in history and is associated with the myth of a nymph. The name carries connotations of beauty and grace, with no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the 19th century and remains a classic name today.
The name Daphne is most popular in North Carolina, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Daphne has been too falling for female in MidWest, too falling for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Daphne' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7067th out of 7552 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 797th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 766th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 469th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 418th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 758th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 575th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 329th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Daphne' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Daphne"
Pronunciation
/ˈdæf.ni/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Daphne comes from the Greek word for 'laurel' or 'bay tree'. In Greek mythology, Daphne was a nymph who was transformed into a laurel tree to escape the advances of Apollo.
Meaning
laurel
Language Evolution
Daphne (Ancient Greek), Daphna (Medieval Greek), Daphne (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, due in part to its association with classical mythology and literature.
Variants & Derivatives
Daphna, Dafne, Daphney
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Daphne is often associated with grace and beauty, and it retains a classic charm that appeals to many parents naming their daughters.
Famous People
Daphne du Maurier, a British author known for her novels., Daphne Blake, a character from the Scooby-Doo franchise.
Explore More Daphne Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Daphne"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Daphne"
"Daphne" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 7067th of 7552 | 7 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 797th of 9107 | 1,502 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 766th of 9204 | 1,597 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 469th of 12526 | 7,264 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 418th of 19264 | 8,257 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 758th of 27321 | 4,080 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 575th of 35406 | 8,012 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 329th of 30306 | 11,548 |
Regional Popularity of "Daphne" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Daphne" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
63.06% 893rd/1416 |
55.47% 765th/1379 |
30.43% 720th/2366 |
61.82% 706th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
77.36% 1196th/1546 |
45.95% 715th/1556 |
30.17% 710th/2353 |
42.21% 653rd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
24.65% 549th/2227 |
19.96% 485th/2430 |
14.58% 416th/2853 |
18.88% 524th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
17.64% 518th/2937 |
14.73% 513th/3483 |
8.21% 289th/3518 |
16.00% 647th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
28.77% 1060th/3685 |
16.87% 755th/4475 |
11.46% 595th/5194 |
15.86% 1002nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
14.49% 664th/4582 |
11.35% 586th/5164 |
9.22% 674th/7313 |
5.92% 442nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
8.46% 337th/3984 |
7.04% 316th/4487 |
6.01% 410th/6822 |
4.33% 272nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Daphne"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Daphne" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.