Girl name
Defne name meaning
“bay laurel, an aromatic evergreen tree”
Defne means bay laurel, an aromatic evergreen tree. It comes from Greek dáfni, which continues the Ancient Greek word dáphnē. In Türkiye, Defne is a feminine given name. Laurel wreaths from the ancient world offer a cultural association, alongside the fragrant leaves used in cooking.
What does Defne mean?
Bay laurel, an aromatic evergreen tree
In Turkish: yaprakları kokulu, herdem yeşil defne ağacı
Defne names the evergreen bay laurel, whose aromatic leaves are also used in cooking. The Greek story of Daphne's transformation into a laurel supplies a mythological association. Laurel wreaths traditionally signify victory and honor, adding an ancient cultural layer to the name's direct botanical meaning.
How popular is Defne?
Official figures: TÜİK newborn name lists (2018–2025, the top 30 for Türkiye and each of the 81 provinces every year) and the most common names in the population.
- 2025 rank (girls)
- 2.
- Babies given the name in 2025
- 7,716
- Best rank
- 1.2024
- Trend (2018–2025)
- steady
Babies named Defne each year
Show as a table
| Year | Girls | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Babies | |
| 2018 | 3 | 6,609 |
| 2019 | 3 | 6,727 |
| 2020 | 3 | 6,351 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5,783 |
| 2022 | 3 | 6,819 |
| 2023 | 3 | 6,883 |
| 2024 | 1 | 7,447 |
| 2025 | 2 | 7,716 |
Where is Defne in the top 30?
81 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Double names with Defne
Double names counted as one name in TÜİK newborn lists (all years and provinces combined).
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. The lists cover the top 30 names per year, sex and province; no official counts are published for less common names. All statistics →
Why is Defne popular?
Defne has stayed near the top for years and remains a leading choice after reaching first place. Its flowing sound and association with the fragrant evergreen laurel give it a fresh, natural appeal.
Origin of the name Defne
From Greek dáfni ‘bay laurel’, continuing Ancient Greek dáphnē.
Double names with Defne
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Defne Melisa
Meaning of each name
- Defne: bay laurel, an aromatic evergreen tree
- Melisa: honeybee; lemon balm
-
Bihter Defne
Meaning of each name
- Bihter: better, finer
- Defne: bay laurel, an aromatic evergreen tree
-
Defne Tomris
Meaning of each name
- Defne: bay laurel, an aromatic evergreen tree
- Tomris: Turkish name of Tomyris, queen of the Massagetae
-
Helen Defne
Meaning of each name
- Helen: possibly torch, light, or radiance
- Defne: bay laurel, an aromatic evergreen tree
-
Defne Nihan
Meaning of each name
- Defne: bay laurel, an aromatic evergreen tree
- Nihan: hidden, concealed; unseen
-
Şule Defne
Meaning of each name
- Şule: flame; the bright glow of fire
- Defne: bay laurel, an aromatic evergreen tree
Double names found in TÜİK’s newborn lists: Defne Su, Defne Lina, Defne Sare, Defne Ada, Defne Hüma, Defne Asel.
How to pronounce Defne
| Syllables | 2 · 5 letters · 5-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /defne/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | دفنه |
Is Defne a girl’s name?
Yes, Defne is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.
Defne appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists; among babies born in 2025 it ranked #2 (7,716 babies). See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Defne
Names with related meanings
- Zeynep♀A fragrant flowering tree
- Lina♀A kind of date palm
- Efnan♀Branches, boughs
- Tuğba♀Blessedness, happiness
- Hazal♀A dried, fallen tree leaf
- Tuba♀Blessedness, happiness
- Zeyneb♀A fragrant flowering tree
- Nihal♀Young tree
- Ilgın♀Tamarisk, a flowering shrub with fine foliage
- Hazel♀Hazel tree
- Yaprak♀A plant's usually green, flat leaf
- Sidra♀A lote tree
Famous people named Defne
- Defne Joy Foster · b. 1975
- Defne Samyeli · b. 1972
- Defne Kayalar · b. 1975
- Defne Taçyıldız · b. 2003
- Defne Başyolcu · b. 2006
- Defne Ayas · b. 1976
- Defne Kurt · b. 2001
- Defne Çırpanlı · b. 2004
- Defne Tanığ · b. 2007
- Defne Halman · b. 1972
- Defne Kandemir · b. 2006
- Defne Patır
FAQ about the name Defne
What is the meaning of Defne?
Defne means “bay laurel, an aromatic evergreen tree”. From Greek dáfni ‘bay laurel’, continuing Ancient Greek dáphnē.
Is Defne a girl’s name?
Yes, Defne is used mostly as a girl’s name.
Is Defne in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Defne nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Defne?
Defne is of Greek origin.
How many syllables does Defne have?
Defne has 2 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Defne?
Defne appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists; among babies born in 2025 it ranked #2 (7,716 babies). See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What names go well with Defne?
Some ideas: Defne Melisa; Bihter Defne; Defne Tomris.
Famous people named Defne?
Notable people named Defne include Defne Joy Foster, Defne Samyeli, Defne Kayalar.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm00147 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake