Declining since 2020.
Popularity of Jeptha since 1883
Babies named Jeptha per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1924, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Jeptha's real moment was 1883.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 11 |
| 1890s | 0 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 42 |
| 1920s | 81 |
| 1930s | 34 |
| 1940s | 31 |
| 1950s | 6 |
| 1960s | 6 |
| 1970s | 11 |
| 1980s | 16 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 21 |
| 2020s | 26 |
Meaning & origin
Jeptha is a rare biblical variant that peaked in 1883, the year it first appeared in Social Security records. Though it never ranked in the top 1000 and has no recorded one-in-N rate, its trajectory has been falling since 2020, reflecting a long decline from its limited 19th-century usage. Primarily used in the 1880s, Jeptha remains a distinctive choice for families seeking an Old Testament name with a phonetic spelling.
Jeptha is an English variant of the biblical name Jephthah, from the Hebrew Yiftach meaning 'he opens' or 'whom God sets free'. In the Old Testament, Jephthah was a judge of Israel known for his tragic vow. The spelling Jeptha emerged in 17th-century England, reflecting a common pattern of simplifying biblical names. It saw modest use in the 19th century but has since declined sharply.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jep
Variants: Jephthah, Jephtah, Yiftach
Sibling names for Jeptha
Names that share Jeptha's style, for a brother or sister.
