Daphne

History & Origin

Daphne comes from the Greek δάφνη (dáphne), the word for the laurel or bay laurel tree. In Greek mythology, Daphne was a naiad nymph, daughter of the river god Peneus, who was transformed into a laurel tree by her father to protect her from the pursuit of the god Apollo. Apollo adopted the laurel as his sacred tree from that moment, explaining the use of laurel wreaths in Greek culture.

Daphne has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since at least the 17th century. It was a popular mid-20th-century name in Britain and has experienced a revival in the 21st century. Best known to younger generations through the character Daphne Blake in the animated series Scooby-Doo and the protagonist of the Netflix series Bridgerton, Daphne is now climbing toward the top 200 U.S. girls' names.