Holding steady.
Popularity of Cephus since 1888
Babies named Cephus per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Cephus's real moment was 1906.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 6 |
| 1890s | 6 |
| 1900s | 47 |
| 1910s | 128 |
| 1920s | 173 |
| 1930s | 123 |
| 1940s | 144 |
| 1950s | 143 |
| 1960s | 112 |
| 1970s | 59 |
| 1980s | 42 |
| 1990s | 16 |
| 2000s | 10 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Cephus is a rare biblical variant that reached its modest peak in 1906, reflecting a period when Old Testament and New Testament names were more commonly used. The name has not ranked in the top 1000 in recent decades, and its trajectory is stable, indicating consistent but extremely low usage. Its lack of top states suggests no regional concentration, and it remains a distinctive choice with strong religious heritage.
Cephus is generally considered a variant of Cephas, the Aramaic name given by Jesus to Simon Peter, meaning 'rock' or 'stone'. The name appears in the New Testament in its Greek form (Κηφᾶς). Cephus itself is a Latinized or English spelling that has seen occasional use, particularly in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ceph, Cephy
Variants: Cephas, Kephas
Sibling names for Cephus
Names that share Cephus's style, for a brother or sister.
