Jephte Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JEF-tee //ˈdʒɛf.θə//
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: He will be judged
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Jephte is derived from the Hebrew name יֵפְתָח (Yiftach), which means "he opens" or "he will open." This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Judges, where Jephthah is a significant figure known for his role as a judge and military leader of Israel during the period of the Judges, approximately in the 12th century BCE. The name was later transliterated into Greek as Ἰεφθά (Iephtá), which was then adopted into Latin as Jephthae, before making its way into Old French and eventually into English as Jephte.
Historically, Jephthah is noted for his vow to God, which led to a tragic outcome involving his daughter, a story that has been interpreted in various ways throughout history. This narrative has been influential in theological discussions and has been referenced in various literary and artistic works, particularly during the Renaissance.
The name Jephte is also associated with the Protestant Reformation, as it appears in translations of the Bible, including the King James Version, published in 1611, which helped to solidify its presence in English-speaking cultures. Culturally, Jephte carries connotations of sacrifice, leadership, and the complexities of faith and duty.
The name has been used in various artistic contexts, including operas and musical compositions, which reflect the enduring impact of the biblical story. The diminutive form, Yiftach, is still used in some Hebrew-speaking communities, maintaining a connection to its ancient roots.
Overall, Jephte serves as a reminder of the rich tapestry of biblical narratives that have shaped cultural and religious identities throughout history.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jephte, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Jephte. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Jephte was first seen in the United States in 1988.
Jephte has ranked as high as #1385 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Jephte has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Jephte 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 Jephte was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Jephte
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
No state data available for this year.
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 Jephte.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 1988 | 5 |