Naphtali
Naphtali is the sixth son of Jacob in the Bible and the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Naphtali.
Meaning & Origin of Naphtali
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Naphtali is the sixth son of Jacob in the Bible and the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Naphtali.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Naphtali
As a girl name
Naphtali first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1981, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1982, when 8 Naphtalis were born — ranking #7,469 that year. As of 2026, Naphtali ranks #15,244 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 83 Naphtalis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Naphtali first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1975, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 15 Naphtalis were born — ranking #5,924 that year. As of 2026, Naphtali ranks #10,889 for boys with 6 births, gradually rising (+11%). In total, more than 265 Naphtalis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Naphtali
Phonetically similar names — useful when Naphtali is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Naphtali
What does the name Naphtali mean?
How popular is Naphtali in 2026?
When was Naphtali most popular?
In which U.S. states is Naphtali most popular?
Is Naphtali a unisex name?
What names go well with Naphtali?
About the name Naphtali
Naphtali is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1975 and has accumulated 265 births in the dataset. Naphtali's peak popularity came in 2023 when it ranked #5,924. Use the chart and map above to compare Naphtali's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2023 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "N" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.