Holding steady.
Popularity of Daphyne since 1953
Babies named Daphyne per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1961, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Daphyne's real moment was 1969.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 10 |
| 1960s | 67 |
| 1970s | 33 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Daphyne is a rare and modern respelling of the mythological name Daphne. First recorded in 1953, the name saw its peak usage in 1969, though it has never entered the top 1000 and remains statistically insignificant. Its trajectory has been stable, meaning it has consistently been used very sparingly without notable revival. The spelling with a 'y' places it among the mid-20th century trend of creative respellings that sought to individualize familiar names. Without strong ties to any particular region or culture, Daphyne remains a niche choice for parents drawn to the sound of Daphne but seeking a unique spelling.
Daphyne is a rare modern respelling of Daphne, a name of Greek origin derived from δάφνη (daphne), meaning 'laurel'. In Greek mythology, Daphne was a nymph who was transformed into a laurel tree to escape Apollo. The spelling with a 'y' emerged in the mid-20th century as part of a trend of creative respellings, though it has never been widely used. The first recorded instance is from 1953, with peak usage in 1969.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Daph, Daffy, Daphy
Sibling names for Daphyne
Names that share Daphyne's style, for a brother or sister.
