Rising since 2016, #2,410 for girls today.
Popularity of Danae since 1947
Babies named Danae per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 16 |
| 1950s | 122 |
| 1960s | 269 |
| 1970s | 550 |
| 1980s | 1,293 |
| 1990s | 1,699 |
| 2000s | 1,815 |
| 2010s | 987 |
| 2020s | 692 |
Meaning & origin
Danae, rooted in Greek mythology, is a name with ancient origins and a modern resurgence. First recorded in the US in 1947, it experienced a steady increase in usage, reaching its peak rank of 2410 in 2001, when it was most popular. After a period of decline, the name has been rising again since 2016, reflecting renewed interest in mythological names. While still relatively rare (about 1 in 21,720 girls in 2025), it has a distinctive sound and literary weight. In the 2000s decade, Danae was most common in Texas, Florida, and California, the top states for the name. Its spelling variant Danaë (with a diaeresis) emphasizes the three-syllable pronunciation, though the simpler Danae is more common in US records.
Danae is of uncertain derivation, though it has been linked to the Greek word 'danos', meaning 'parched' or 'thirsty'. In Greek mythology, Danae was the daughter of King Acrisius of Argos and mother of the hero Perseus. The name has been used in various European cultures since the Renaissance, and gained some modern usage in the United States from the mid-20th century.
Where Danae is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Danae” around the world
Where Danae lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
30
babies in 2024
Quebec
6
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dana, Dee, Nae
Variants: Danaë, Danae
Sibling names for Danae
Names that share Danae's style, for a brother or sister.
