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Alternatives to Daphne

MiaLen
By MiaLen
Updated Thu Mar 14 2024
Daphne is a Bridgerton name, a Greek heroine, and a nature name. She's popular amongst Berries (ranking 17th on Nameberry), and ranks 278th in the US. Here are some alternatives.
  1. Alice

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "noble"

    • Description:

      Alice is a classic literary name that's both strong and sweet, ranking in the US Top 100 and popular throughout the western world. Alice is derived from the Old French name Aalis, a diminutive of Adelais that itself came from the Germanic name Adalhaidis, which is composed of the Proto-Germanic elements aþala, meaning "noble," and haidu, "kind, appearance, type."
  2. Amelie

    • Origin:

      French variation of Amelia

    • Meaning:

      "work"

    • Description:

      Emily gets a Bohemian spin and a French accent when it becomes Amelie. This favorite among French girl names has been gaining notice here thanks to the charming 2001 French film Amelie; it entered the American popularity list in 2002 and is now solidly established in the Top 1000.
  3. Ariadne

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "most holy"

    • Description:

      This name of the Cretan goddess of fertility is most popular now as the more melodic Ariana, but Ariadne has possibilities of its own. It first entered the US Top 1000 in 2014. The renewed interest in the name falls in line with the revival of other mythological names like Apollo and Athena. The trendy nickname Ari doesn't hurt either.
  4. Astrid

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "divinely beautiful"

    • Description:

      Astrid has been a Scandinavian royal name since the tenth century, and many people associated it with the Swedish author of the Pippi Longstocking stories, Astrid Lindgren. Astrid is derived from the name Ástríðr, which is made up of the Old Norse elements that mean "god" and "beautiful."
  5. Athena

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "from Athens"

    • Description:

      Magical and distinctive but grounded and familiar too, it's no surprise that Athena has become one of the most widely used ancient goddess names in the contemporary Western world. Derived from the city name Athens, it is current a Top 100 choice in the US.
  6. Belle

    • Origin:

      Short form of Isabelle or French

    • Meaning:

      "beautiful"

    • Description:

      Belle has nothing but positive associations, from "belle of the ball" to "Southern belle" to the heroine of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. As if this weren't enough good things, Belle is also one of the most familiar and usable names that mean beautiful. Though it has been overshadowed by the Twilight-influenced Bella and longer forms like Isabella and Annabella, Belle has its own Southern charm and would make a pretty choice as a first or middle name.
  7. Calliope

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "beautiful voice"

    • Description:

      Calliope is the name of the muse of epic poetry -- and also the musical instrument on the merry-go-round. Bold and creative, it debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2016, and entered the Top 500 in 2023. Similar in rhythm and sound to Penelope with usable nicknames Callie, Clio, and Lola, it is no wonder it's on the rise.
  8. Charlotte

    • Origin:

      French, feminine diminutive of Charles

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      Charlotte, the name of the young Princess of Cambridge, is the latest classic name to join Sophia, Emma, Olivia, and Isabella at the top of the popularity list. It is now among the most popular girl names in many English-speaking and European countries.
  9. Chloe

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "young green shoot"

    • Description:

      Chloe is a pretty springtime name symbolizing new growth. Though slightly off its peak in the Top 10 in 2010, Chloe still ranks in the Top 20 and is solidly a modern classic.
  10. Cora

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "maiden"

    • Description:

      Cora is a lovely, old-fashioned girls' that has been recently rejuvenated by its contemporary-feeling simplicity. In fact, Cora seemed headed straight for the top of the popularity list when the coronavirus pandemic somewhat weakened its appeal.
  11. Cordelia

    • Origin:

      Latin; Celtic

    • Meaning:

      "heart; daughter of the sea"

    • Description:

      Cordelia is exactly the kind of old-fashioned, grown-up name for girls that many parents are seeking for their daughters today. The name of King Lear's one sympathetic daughter, Cordelia has both style and substance along with its Shakespearean pedigree.
  12. Cybele

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "the mother of all gods"

    • Description:

      The Anatolian mother goddess Cybele had a place in Greek, Roman, Trojan, and Anatolian mythology. Today, she has special meaning as a symbol of gender nonconformity.
  13. Dabney

    • Origin:

      English surname

    • Meaning:

      "from Aubigny"

    • Description:

      A unisex surname familiarized by male actor Dabney Coleman, but with potential to carry over to the girl's side as well. Dabney feels in line with the Irish Darcy and Darby.
  14. Dacy

    • Description:

      Dacy is a charming feminine name with several possible origins. It may be a variation of Darcy (an Irish surname meaning 'dark one' or 'from the fortress'), a diminutive of names containing 'dac' like Danica, or even a modern invention inspired by names like Stacy and Macy. With its sweet, contemporary sound and straightforward spelling, Dacy strikes a nice balance between familiar and uncommon. The name has a bright, energetic quality with its short two-syllable structure. While never reaching mainstream popularity, Dacy occasionally appears as a given name in English-speaking countries. Parents may choose Dacy for its fresh sound, easy pronunciation, and subtle connection to more traditional naming roots while still giving their daughter a distinctive identity.

  15. Daffy

    • Description:

      Daffy is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive of names like Daphne or David, though it's more widely recognized as the name of the animated character Daffy Duck. The name has a playful, whimsical quality that evokes cheerfulness and spirited personality. As a given name for humans, Daffy remains extremely rare, likely due to its strong cartoon association and the informal meaning of 'silly' or 'eccentric.' Despite these challenges, some parents might be drawn to its upbeat sound and distinctiveness. The name's unconventional nature makes it memorable, though a person named Daffy might need to embrace its quirky associations or opt for a more formal name on official documents.

  16. Dafina

    • Origin:

      Albanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "laurel"

    • Description:

      A pretty variation of Daphne, derived from the same Greek root.
  17. Dafna

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "laurel"

    • Description:

      The Hebrew form of Daphne, typically only heard among Jewish families in the US.
  18. Dahlia

    • Origin:

      Flower name, from Swedish surname

    • Meaning:

      "Dahl's flower"

    • Description:

      One of the flower names, used occasionally in Britain (where it's pronounced DAY-lee-a). It seems to have recovered from what was perceived as a slightly affected la-di-dah air. The flower was named in honor of the pioneering Swedish botanist Andreas Dahl, which means dale.
  19. Daisy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Margaret or flower name, English

    • Meaning:

      "day's eye"

    • Description:

      Daisy, fresh, wholesome, and energetic, is one of the flower names that burst back into bloom after a century's hibernation. Originally a nickname for Margaret (the French Marguerite is the word for the flower), Daisy comes from the phrase "day's eye," because it opens its petals at daybreak.
  20. Dalia

    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Spanish, or Swahili

    • Meaning:

      "branch; dahlia; gentle"

    • Description:

      Similar in sound to the flower name Dahlia, this gentle but distinctive name, heard in many cultures, hits that Golden Mean between too popular and too unusual. In Lithuanian mythology, Dalia is a goddess of weaving and of fate.