Cephas Boy

Popularity: #919 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SEE-fas //ˈsiːfəs//

Origin: Hebrew; Greek

Meaning: Hebrew: 'rock'; Greek: 'stone'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Cephas has its roots in the Aramaic word "kepha," meaning "rock" or "stone." This term was transliterated into Greek as "Kēphas" and subsequently adopted into Latin as "Cephas." The name entered the English language through the translation of biblical texts, particularly the New Testament, where it is used to refer to the Apostle Peter, who was given this name by Jesus to signify his foundational role in the early Christian church. The use of Cephas in the New Testament can be traced back to the 1st century CE, specifically in the Gospel of John and the letters of Paul, where it emphasizes Peter's significance among the apostles.

Historically, Cephas is associated with Saint Peter, one of the most prominent figures in Christianity. According to the New Testament, Peter was a fisherman who became one of Jesus' closest disciples.

His role as a leader in the early Christian community is well-documented, and he is often regarded as the first Pope by the Roman Catholic Church. The name Cephas thus carries a weight of religious significance, symbolizing strength and stability in faith, which has contributed to its enduring presence in Christian tradition.

Culturally, the name Cephas resonates with themes of leadership and foundational strength, reflecting its meaning as "rock." This association has made it a symbol of steadfastness in various Christian contexts. The name is sometimes used in its diminutive form, "Peter," which has also become widely recognized and carries similar connotations.

The enduring legacy of Cephas is evident in its continued use in religious texts and its representation of a pivotal figure in Christian history.

Famous people named Cephas

In this section, you will find notable people named Cephas. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Cephas who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Cephas who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Cephas T. McCauley is a musician best known for his work with the band Cephas and Wiggins, and for his contributions to the blues genre.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Cephas, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

PeterJamesJohnAndrewMatthewThomas

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Cephas. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

CyrusSilasEliasTobiasMicahJonasAmosHosea

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Cephas was first seen in the United States in 1898.

Cephas has ranked as high as #3243 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in Virginia.

In the past 5 years the name Cephas has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Cephas is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Cephas was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Cephas.

Year Total Births Boy
2025 19 19
2024 9 9
2023 13 13
2021 12 12
2020 14 14
2019 14 14
2018 13 13
2017 12 12
2016 10 10
2015 12 12
2014 9 9
2012 6 6
2011 11 11
2010 7 7
2009 13 13
2008 10 10
2007 7 7
2005 7 7
2003 9 9
2000 5 5
1996 8 8
1993 8 8
1992 8 8
1989 7 7
1986 5 5
1985 5 5
1984 7 7
1982 6 6
1981 6 6
1980 9 9
1979 6 6
1977 7 7
1976 5 5
1975 5 5
1974 9 9
1973 7 7
1972 7 7
1971 9 9
1969 6 6
1967 5 5
1966 6 6
1963 7 7
1962 10 10
1960 7 7
1959 8 8
1958 7 7
1957 6 6
1956 13 13
1955 8 8
1954 6 6
1953 8 8
1952 8 8
1951 8 8
1950 10 10
1949 6 6
1948 11 11
1947 9 9
1946 10 10
1945 8 8
1944 6 6
1943 6 6
1942 14 14
1941 10 10
1940 11 11
1939 13 13
1938 6 6
1937 10 10
1936 6 6
1935 12 12
1934 14 14
1933 8 8
1932 13 13
1931 13 13
1930 13 13
1929 9 9
1928 16 16
1927 8 8
1926 14 14
1925 18 18
1924 18 18
1923 12 12
1922 18 18
1921 23 23
1920 19 19
1919 17 17
1918 15 15
1917 17 17
1916 17 17
1915 14 14
1914 7 7
1913 7 7
1912 6 6
1905 5 5
1900 6 6
1898 6 6

Top States for Cephas (1921)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
VA 6
100%