What does Daphne mean?
From Greek 'daphne' (δάφνη) meaning 'laurel, bay tree'. In myth the nymph Daphne was transformed into a laurel to escape Apollo.
What does Thea mean?
Thea means “goddess” in Greek and is also a short form of Dorothea.
Daphne vs Thea
Which is more popular?
Daphne is more popular than Thea today: about 1,740 US babies were given the name Daphne in 2025, compared with 867 named Thea.
| Daphne | Thea | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Laurel | Goddess |
| Origin | greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | DAF-nee | THEE-ah |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1886 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2025 (1,740) | 2018 (1,209) |
| In 2025 | 1,740 | 867 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Daphne
Thea
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Daphne | Thea |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 7,562 | 5,908 |
| 2010s | 7,768 | 6,408 |
| 2000s | 5,126 | 1,362 |
| 1990s | 2,519 | 952 |
| 1980s | 2,699 | 1,022 |
| 1970s | 4,827 | 1,008 |
| 1960s | 6,933 | 1,099 |
| 1950s | 2,789 | 1,027 |
| 1940s | 1,321 | 431 |
| 1930s | 764 | 207 |
| 1920s | 1,057 | 254 |
| 1910s | 498 | 157 |
| 1900s | 162 | 87 |
| 1890s | 131 | 105 |
| 1880s | 26 | 86 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Daphne or Thea more popular?
Daphne is more popular than Thea today: about 1,740 US babies were given the name Daphne in 2025, compared with 867 named Thea.
What is the difference between Daphne and Thea?
Daphne means Laurel (greek origin), while Thea means Goddess (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Daphne or Thea?
In US records, Daphne first appears in 1886 and Thea in 1880, so Thea has the longer recorded history.