Defne
A feminine Turkish given name referring to the laurel tree or bay leaf.
Name Census estimates that about 620 living Americans carry the first name Defne. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Defne today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Defne births was 2017 (51 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Defne. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
620
~ 1 in 552,830 Americans
Peak year
2017
51 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,295
Tracked since 1993
Popularity
Defne: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Defne from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 316 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Defne remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Defne by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Defne during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Defnes live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. California, New York, Texas recorded the most babies named Defne, while Florida, New Jersey, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 27 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Defne
The name Defne has its origins in the Turkish language and is derived from the Turkish word for the laurel tree, "defne ağacı". The laurel tree has held significant cultural and symbolic meaning throughout history, particularly in ancient Greek and Roman civilizations where its branches were used to crown victors and poets.
In ancient Greek mythology, the laurel was sacred to the god Apollo, and the nymph Daphne was transformed into a laurel tree to escape his advances. This tale is believed to have influenced the name's popularity in the region. The name Defne is also found in various spellings, such as Daphne and Dafne, across different cultures and languages.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Defne can be traced back to the Byzantine Empire, where it was a common name among the aristocracy. During this time, the name was often associated with nobility and grace.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Defne. One of the most famous was Defne Samyeli (1936-2015), a renowned Turkish actress and singer who gained widespread popularity for her performances in both cinema and theatre.
Another prominent individual was Defne Joy Foster (1913-1976), an English actress and writer who achieved success on the stage and in television during the mid-20th century. She is particularly remembered for her roles in various BBC productions.
In the realm of literature, Defne Halman (1950-2007) was a notable Turkish writer and translator. She made significant contributions to the promotion of Turkish literature abroad and received numerous awards for her work.
The name Defne also has connections to the world of sports. Defne Doğaner (born 1993) is a Turkish weightlifter who has competed in several Olympic Games and won numerous medals at international competitions.
Lastly, Defne Samyeli (1987-2010), a Turkish actress and model, gained recognition for her roles in popular Turkish television series before her untimely passing at the age of 23.
These examples serve to illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals who have carried the name Defne throughout the centuries, highlighting its enduring appeal across various cultures and disciplines.
People
Defne + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Defne as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Defne: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Defne?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 620 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Defne going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 552,830 US residents.
Is Defne a common name?
We classify Defne as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 626 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Defne most popular?
The single biggest year for Defne was 2017, when 51 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Defne is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Defne a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Defne in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.