Rising since 2002, #6,446 for boys today.
Popularity of Jafeth since 1999
Babies named Jafeth per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 75 |
| 2010s | 105 |
| 2020s | 73 |
Meaning & origin
Jafeth is a rare biblical name that first appeared on U.S. birth records in 1999, reaching a peak rank of 6,446th in 2023 with an estimated 1 in 131,390 births. Its trajectory has been consistently rising since 2002, reflecting a modest but growing interest in Old Testament names with an alternative spelling. Though not widely used, Jafeth offers a distinctive option for parents seeking a name with clear religious roots. The name has not yet appeared in enough top states to register a specific concentration, indicating its scattered but emerging presence.
Jafeth is a variant of Japheth, one of the three sons of Noah in the Hebrew Bible (Genesis 5:32). The name derives from the Hebrew root y-p-h, meaning 'to be wide, spacious' or 'to add,' and is traditionally interpreted as 'God adds' or 'God increases.' The spelling Jafeth is a less common English transliteration, influenced by the Greek and Latin forms of the name.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jaf, Jeth
Sibling names for Jafeth
Names that share Jafeth's style, for a brother or sister.
