Danae

Meaning of Danae

Danae, pronounced duh-NAY, carries the shimmer of a Greek legend and the easy grace of a modern nickname. In mythology she was the Argive princess who, despite being tucked away in a bronze tower, still caught Zeus’s eye—and from their unlikely meeting came the hero Perseus. That tale lends Danae an aura of quiet courage: she turns confinement into possibility and transforms a shower of gold into the start of an adventure. Linguists trace her name to the Greek word for “parched” or “dry,” yet parents today seem to hear something more refreshing—a soft, melodic sound that feels at once exotic and approachable. In the United States, Danae has hovered in the Top 1000 since the late 1960s, never common enough to lose its sparkle, always familiar enough to save repeated spelling lessons. For families looking for a name that pairs mythic backbone with everyday charm, Danae offers just the right blend of storybook stardust and playground ease.