Japheth
A boy's name of Hebrew origin with 1,353 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
The third son of Noah, brother to Shem and Ham, who received a blessing from God with Shem, considered to be the ancestor of the Japhetic people(s) (associated approx. with Indo-Europeans and Turkic peoples).
Japheth is a boy's baby name of Hebrew origin meaning 'may he expand' or 'enlargement,' from the Hebrew root yaphath. In the Old Testament, Japheth was one of Noah's three sons who survived the Great Flood — considered in ancient tradition to be the ancestor of Indo-European peoples.
Rare and biblical, Japheth carries the weight of one of scripture's founding narratives.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Japheth's final sounds are distinguished, classic — shared with Old English and biblical names. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Japheth softens that pattern, giving it a more versatile feel.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Japheth's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Japheth climbed 256 spots in the last 20 years — from #3492 to #3236.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 172 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 361 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 327 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 192 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 176 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 125 | — |
The Story of Japheth
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2007, Japheth is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Japheth are most likely born between 1997 and 2017.
How rare is Japheth?
Only about 1 in every 97,297 babies born in 2024 was named Japheth — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1970, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 2010s with 361 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Japheth by the numbers
- Would fill 28 school buses
- Meeting one Japheth per day would take 3.7 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(54 years, 1970–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 37 | #3236 |
| 2023 | 33 | #3501 |
| 2022 | 34 | #3435 |
| 2021 | 26 | #4060 |
| 2020 | 42 | #2858 |
| 2019 | 34 | #3381 |
| 2018 | 40 | #2965 |
| 2017 | 35 | #3272 |
| 2016 | 39 | #3028 |
| 2015 | 43 | #2783 |
| 2014 | 43 | #2774 |
| 2013 | 37 | #3022 |
| 2012 | 27 | #3837 |
| 2011 | 35 | #3202 |
| 2010 | 28 | #3754 |
| 2009 | 40 | #2970 |
| 2008 | 21 | #4609 |
| 2007 | 51 | #2488 |
| 2006 | 39 | #2901 |
| 2005 | 33 | #3119 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Japheth a boy's or girl's name?
When was Japheth most popular?
How popular is the name Japheth?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1970–2024