Neftali Unisex

Popularity: #892 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: NEF-tah-lee /ˈnɛf.tɑː.li/

Origin: Hebrew; Spanish

Meaning: Hebrew: 'My struggle'; Spanish: 'Noble'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Neftali has its roots in Hebrew, derived from the biblical name Naftali (נַפְתָּלִי), which is believed to mean "my struggle" or "he has wrestled." This etymology is linked to the narrative in the Book of Genesis, where Naftali is one of the sons of Jacob and Bilhah, Jacob's concubine. The name appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in Genesis 30:8, where Rachel names her son Naftali, reflecting her own struggles with her sister Leah over childbearing.

The name's transition into other languages occurred through the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, where it was rendered as "Naphtali," and subsequently into Latin as "Naphtali," before making its way into Old French and eventually English. Historically, Naftali is significant as one of the tribes of Israel, and the name has been carried through various biblical and historical texts.

The tribe of Naphtali is often associated with certain regions in ancient Israel, particularly in the northern part of the territory. The name has also been borne by notable figures in Jewish history, including the 19th-century Jewish poet and scholar Naphtali Herz Imber, who is known for writing the lyrics to "Hatikvah," the national anthem of Israel.

The name's biblical roots and its connection to the tribes of Israel have contributed to its enduring presence in Jewish culture. Culturally, Neftali resonates with themes of struggle and perseverance, reflecting the biblical narrative of its namesake.

The name has been used in various literary and religious contexts, symbolizing resilience and the human experience of overcoming challenges. In some traditions, diminutive forms such as "Nafi" have emerged, though these are less common.

Overall, the name Neftali carries a rich historical and cultural significance, rooted deeply in its biblical origins.

Famous people named Neftali

In this section, you will find notable people named Neftali. 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 Neftali who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Neftali 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.

Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto, known as Pablo Neruda, is a poet best known for Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair, The Captain's Verses, and Canto General.

Neftali Santiago is a musician best known for his work with the band Los Angeles Azules.

Sibling suggestions

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

GabrielDanielSamuelElijahIsaiahMiriamLeah

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Neftali. 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.

NathanaelNathanNicolasNestorNoahNicoNolanNiles

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Neftali was first seen in the United States in 1953.

Neftali has ranked as high as #3404 nationally, which occurred in 2003, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Neftali has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Neftali 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 Neftali 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 Neftali.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 53 46 7
2024 25 25 0
2023 42 42 0
2022 44 44 0
2021 39 39 0
2020 23 23 0
2019 42 42 0
2018 36 36 0
2017 39 39 0
2016 50 50 0
2015 39 39 0
2014 47 42 5
2013 48 39 9
2012 50 42 8
2011 54 42 12
2010 44 36 8
2009 79 64 15
2008 80 62 18
2007 81 60 21
2006 68 52 16
2005 71 54 17
2004 67 52 15
2003 90 70 20
2002 73 52 21
2001 72 54 18
2000 83 64 19
1999 59 40 19
1998 66 54 12
1997 86 64 22
1996 66 45 21
1995 55 43 12
1994 53 38 15
1993 47 29 18
1992 49 39 10
1991 38 29 9
1990 43 34 9
1989 36 36 0
1988 37 32 5
1987 30 30 0
1986 31 25 6
1985 32 32 0
1984 28 28 0
1983 29 29 0
1982 24 24 0
1981 20 20 0
1980 25 25 0
1979 31 31 0
1978 28 28 0
1977 20 20 0
1976 18 18 0
1975 18 18 0
1974 25 25 0
1973 22 22 0
1972 18 18 0
1971 21 21 0
1970 24 24 0
1969 14 14 0
1968 11 11 0
1967 13 13 0
1966 12 12 0
1965 13 13 0
1964 17 17 0
1963 6 6 0
1962 9 9 0
1961 14 14 0
1960 9 9 0
1959 12 12 0
1956 10 10 0
1955 7 7 0
1954 7 7 0
1953 5 5 0

Top States for Neftali (2024)

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
CA 6
55%
TX 5
45%