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