Daphne

Daphne comes from the Greek word for the laurel tree, and from the myth of a nymph who, fleeing Apollo, asked the gods to turn her into one; the leaves crowned every Olympic victor after. Daphne du Maurier wrote Rebecca and Don't Look Now; Scooby-Doo's Daphne solves mysteries in purple. Bridgerton brought the name a fresh wave of viewers and admirers, and it currently sits at rank 192 in the U.S., near its modern high. Two syllables, the unusual ph in the middle like a small held breath. Daphne is literary, a touch regal, and surprisingly playful. Verdant, self-possessed, quietly bookish.