Holding steady.
Popularity of Nefi since 1980
Babies named Nefi per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 10 |
| 1990s | 50 |
| 2000s | 72 |
| 2010s | 36 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Nefi remains an exceptionally rare name in the United States, first recorded in 1980. Its peak year was 2008, though even then it never entered the top 1000. The name is likely a variant of Nephi, a figure from the Book of Mormon, giving it strong associations with the Latter Day Saint movement. Nefi has not appeared in any top state lists, and its trajectory has remained stable at very low usage levels. For families seeking a distinct name with religious or literary roots, Nefi offers a more streamlined alternative to the more familiar Nephi.
Nefi likely derives as a variant of Nephi, a name popularized by the Book of Mormon (1830), a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement. Nephi itself may be adapted from a biblical or Hebrew-sounding construct, though its exact origin is uncertain. Outside of Mormon communities, Nefi appears as a rare modern coinage, sometimes used as a given name in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Nephi
Sibling names for Nefi
Names that share Nefi's style, for a brother or sister.
