Fun Facts About the Name Daffne
- 52 babies named Daffne: U.S. records list 52 babies given the name Daffne from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Daffne Mean?
Daffne is a variant spelling of Daphne, a name of Greek origin meaning "laurel" or "bay tree." It comes from the Greek noun daphnē (δάφνη), the word for the evergreen shrub also known as bay laurel. In Greek myth, Daphne was a nymph pursued by the god Apollo and turned into a laurel tree, which tied the plant and the name together in Greek tradition. The Daffne spelling represents the same pronunciation as the standard form but writes the Greek-derived ph as ff; that change belongs to informal English spelling practice rather than to the Greek original.
Daffne Name History & Origins
The source of the name is the Greek daphnē, the laurel or bay tree, which was sacred to Apollo. Wreaths of laurel were given to victors in the Pythian Games at Delphi, so the word carried associations of victory and poetic honor alongside its plain botanical meaning. The nymph Daphne's transformation is told in Greek sources and in Ovid's Latin Metamorphoses, where her father, a river god, answers her prayer and changes her into the tree just before Apollo catches her.
As a personal name, Daphne was used in the Greek-speaking world, though it was never common there. The related masculine form Daphnis appears in Greek pastoral poetry, including the work of Theocritus. The name passed into Western European use later, and in English it became established as a given name in the 18th and 19th centuries, helped by familiarity with the classical myth and by the growing fashion for Greek-derived names.
The spelling Daffne is a phonetic variant that shows up in some modern name lists and in individual family records, where it reflects the sound of the name rather than the Greek-derived ph. It has no separate origin or meaning of its own; it is simply an alternate way of writing Daphne, and it remains far less common than the standard spelling.
How Popular is the Name Daffne?
Daffne has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2007. Its best rank was #4,844 in 2007.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #13,396 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #15,850 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #4,844 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2001 | #10,303 | 9 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with D
How the Name Daffne Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Daffne's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Daffne's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.