Dafni as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Dafni

What is the meaning of the name Dafni ?

The baby name Dafni is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Greek: /ˈðafni/ (DAHF-nee); English: /ˈdæfni/ (DAF-nee).

Dafni is Greek in Origin.

Dafni is the Modern Greek romanization of Δάφνη, a feminine name meaning “laurel” or “bay tree.” In Greek mythology, the nymph Daphne fled Apollo and was transformed into a laurel, which became his sacred tree; the name thus evokes victory, poetic inspiration, and protection, echoing the laurel wreaths awarded in ancient athletic and artistic contests.

Attested in the Greek-speaking world since antiquity, the name spread through European culture during the Renaissance via classical literature and the arts - appearing in early operas titled Dafne/Daphne and later gaining English visibility through figures like novelist Daphne du Maurier. Variants include Daphne (English, Dutch, Scandinavian), Daphné (French), Dafne (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese), and Dafna/Daphna (Hebrew). Dafni itself is current in Greece and Cyprus as a direct transliteration from Greek. Across its forms, the name retains its mythic roots and the enduring symbolism of the laurel.