Dafna is a Hebrew female name meaning "laurel," derived from the Greek name Daphne (Δάφνη), which denotes the laurel or bay tree. In Greek mythology, Daphne was a nymph who transformed into a laurel tree to escape Apollo, linking the name to themes of triumph and poetic honor. The Hebrew form Dafna (דפנה) directly borrows this botanical meaning, and it has been used in Israel as a modern given name since the early 20th century.EtymologyThe name ultimately traces to the Greek word daphnē ("laurel"), which entered Hebrew through the Septuagint and later cultural exchange. The laurel was sacred to Apollo and became a symbol of victory in ancient Greece, with laurel wreaths awarded to victors in the Pythian Games. By extension, the name carries connotations of honor and achievement. According to the Wikipedia extract, Dafna is also the name of a kibbutz in northern Israel founded in 1939 as a Tower and Stockade settlement, and the location's name preserves the ancient toponym Daphne, mentioned by Josephus in connection with the Hula Valley's springs and marshes. Ottoman tax records from 1535 list a settlement called Mezraʿa-i Dafna, showing long-standing use of the name in the region.Notable BearersWhile no prominent figures with exactly this name are widely documented outside of Israel, the name Dafna is common among Israeli women born from the 1940s onward. The kibbutz Dafna, established in 1939 as one of the "Ussishkin Fortresses," reflects the name's deep roots in the Land of Israel's geography and modern pioneering history.Related FormsVariants exist across languages: Daphne in English and Greek mythology; Dafni in Modern Greek; Dafne in Spanish; Daphné in French; Daphnée in Quebec French; and Dafina in Macedonian (which may also derive from a different root). All share the laurel association.Meaning: LaurelOrigin: Hebrew, from GreekType: Given nameUsage: Primarily Hebrew, also modern Israeli