Hi I looked up my book of baby names. Like the name Gloria ,Daphne is a girl's name. Daphne is pronounced DAFF-nee. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Daphne is "laurel tree". Mythology: virtuous Daphne was a nymph who was transformed into a laurel tree to protect her from Apollo. The name was used under the Roman Empire, but disappeared until the 18th century. It came to America as a slave name. Dafne is a Swedish form. Author Daphne Du Maurier. Daphne has 12 variant forms: Daffi, Daffie, Daffy, Dafna, Dafne, Dafnee, Dafneigh, Dafnie, Danfy, Daphna, Daphney and Daphnie. The name is considered old fashioned nowadays so no modern mother would call her daughter Daphne.