Jeptha Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JEP-tha //ˈdʒɛfθə//
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: He will be set free
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Jeptha is derived from the Hebrew name יֵפְתָח (Yiftach), which means 'he opens' or 'he will open.' The name appears in the Old Testament of the Bible, where Jephthah is a notable figure, serving as a judge of Israel. His story is primarily recounted in the Book of Judges, particularly in the 11th chapter, which dates back to around the 12th century BCE.
The name was later transliterated into Greek as Ἰεφθά (Iephtá) and subsequently into Latin as Jephthah, before making its way into English through the influence of the King James Bible in the early 17th century. Jephthah's narrative is significant within the biblical context, as he is known for his leadership during a time of conflict with the Ammonites and for his tragic vow, which ultimately leads to the sacrifice of his daughter.
This story has been a subject of theological discussion and interpretation throughout the centuries, influencing various artistic and literary works. The name has also been associated with themes of sacrifice, valor, and the complexities of leadership in times of strife.
Culturally, the name Jeptha has resonated within Judeo-Christian traditions, symbolizing the struggles and moral dilemmas faced by leaders. It has been used in various forms of literature and art, reflecting the enduring legacy of the biblical Jephthah.
The name may also appear in its diminutive forms, such as Jep or Jef, which have been used in some contexts, although these are less historically prominent. Overall, Jeptha carries a rich historical and cultural significance rooted in its biblical origins.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jeptha, 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 Jeptha. 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 Jeptha was first seen in the United States in 1883.
Jeptha has ranked as high as #901 nationally, which occurred in 1924, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Jeptha has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Jeptha 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 Jeptha was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Jeptha
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 Jeptha.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1987 | 5 |
| 1980 | 6 |
| 1972 | 5 |
| 1970 | 6 |
| 1963 | 6 |
| 1957 | 6 |
| 1947 | 7 |
| 1945 | 5 |
| 1944 | 6 |
| 1942 | 8 |
| 1941 | 5 |
| 1938 | 5 |
| 1933 | 7 |
| 1932 | 5 |
| 1931 | 9 |
| 1930 | 8 |
| 1928 | 5 |
| 1927 | 10 |
| 1926 | 5 |
| 1925 | 12 |
| 1924 | 15 |
| 1923 | 13 |
| 1922 | 9 |
| 1921 | 12 |
| 1919 | 6 |
| 1918 | 7 |
| 1917 | 6 |
| 1916 | 11 |
| 1914 | 6 |
| 1913 | 6 |
| 1886 | 5 |
| 1883 | 6 |