Find out how popular the first name Daphyne has been for the last 3 years (from 1974 to 1976) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Daphyne by gender

Based on the last 3 years of data, Daphyne is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1976, there were 7 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Daphyne.

The history of the first name Daphyne

The name Daphyne is a feminine given name of Greek origin, derived from the ancient Greek word "daphne," meaning "laurel" or "bay tree." This name has its roots in Greek mythology, where Daphne was a beautiful Naiad nymph who was transformed into a laurel tree to escape the advances of the god Apollo.

In the ancient world, laurel wreaths were symbols of victory, honor, and triumph. The use of the name Daphyne likely originated as a way to bestow these symbolic qualities upon the bearer. The earliest known recorded instance of the name dates back to the 5th century BC, found in ancient Greek literature and inscriptions.

One notable historical figure named Daphyne was a Greek poetess from the island of Lesbos, who lived around the 3rd century BC. Her works were highly regarded in her time, although only fragments have survived to the present day.

During the Byzantine era, a famous Saint Daphyne lived in the 5th century AD. She was a Christian martyr who was tortured and executed for her faith during the persecution of Christians under the Roman Empire.

In the 16th century, Daphyne Dufour was a French Renaissance artist and portraitist, known for her skilled depictions of the nobility and elite of her time. Her works can be found in various European museums and galleries.

Another notable figure was Daphyne du Maurier, a British playwright and novelist who lived from 1907 to 1989. She is best known for her gothic romance novel "Rebecca," which was adapted into a classic film by Alfred Hitchcock.

In more recent history, Daphyne Sheldrick was a Kenyan-born conservationist and author who dedicated her life to protecting and rehabilitating orphaned elephants and rhinos in Africa. She lived from 1934 to 2018 and her work had a significant impact on wildlife conservation efforts in Kenya.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Daphyne was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Daphyne, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!