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Danae

Girl name · Mexican

Meaningmother of Perseus · Greek

Danae is a Mexican girl name meaning “mother of Perseus”, with Greek roots. Greek names often reach back to myth, philosophy and the early Church, so they come with a lot of history. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.

Did you know?

  • Hidden namesLook closely: Danae has the name Ana hiding inside it.
  • GenerationDanae peaked in 1991, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Danae you'd meet today is about 34 years old.
  • Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Danae would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 21,739 baby girls got the name in 2025.
  • HistoryDanae first shows up in US birth records in 1947, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 78 years since.
Baby lying on a pink blanket
hello, little Danae

US births per million girls, 1947–2025

0601201947196020002025

Similar names

Girl name: DanielaUnisex name: DanteGirl name: DannaGirl name: DaniellaGirl name: DanielleUnisex name: Dani
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Danae

Danae is a girl name of Mexican origin meaning “mother of Perseus”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 1990s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.

Origin:Mexican names

More Mexican girl names

Questions about the name Danae

What does the name Danae mean?

Danae means “mother of Perseus” and comes from Greek.

What is the origin of the name Danae?

Danae is Mexican in origin, and its meaning traces back to Greek. Other Mexican names to consider are Olivia (“olive tree”), Emma (“whole, universal”), Amelia (“work, industrious”) and Mia (“possibly beloved”).

Is Danae a boy or girl name?

Danae is a girl name. In 2025, 74 US girls were named Danae.

How popular is the name Danae?

Danae ranked #2,410 for US girls in 2025, given to 74 babies. Its best year was 1991, when it reached #913. Over the last five years it has slipped 538 places.

What should I know before naming my baby Danae?

Danae is a Mexican girl name meaning “mother of Perseus”, with Greek roots. Greek names often reach back to myth, philosophy and the early Church, so they come with a lot of history. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.