Nefi

A boy's name of Hebrew origin with 173 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

nephew

Nefi is a boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, related to the Book of Mormon name Nephi — from the Hebrew naphil or nophi meaning 'height, exalted' or possibly from the Egyptian. In the Book of Mormon, Nephi is the righteous son of Lehi who became a great prophet-leader of his people.

As a given name in Latter-day Saint communities, Nefi (the Spanish form of Nephi) carries a heritage of faith, courage, and divine guidance — a name that connects the bearer to one of the foundational figures of Latter-day Saint scripture.

EtymologyShow more

The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Nefi's final sounds are open, approachable — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Nefi softens that pattern, giving it a more versatile feel.

Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Nefi's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.

At a Glance

173

Total births

Since 1980

2008

Peak

12 births

1980

First recorded

42 years of data

Compare Nefi with another name

Popularity Over Time

Nefi has 24+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1980.

First appeared: 1980Peak: 2008 (12 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Nefi
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	5	#13486	▼
2010s	36	#11807	▼
2000s	72	#8320	▲
1990s	50	#7737	▲
1980s	10	#7113	—

The Story of Nefi

A Gen Z name

Peaking in 2008, Nefi is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Nefi are most likely born between 1998 and 2018.

How rare is Nefi?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Nefi is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1980, peaked in the 2000s with 72 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Nefi by the numbers

Would fill 4 school buses

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(24 years, 1980–2021)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Nefi
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2021	5	#13486	-1 (-16.7%)
2019	6	#11729	0
2017	6	#11766	-1 (-14.3%)
2015	7	#10292	+2 (40.0%)
2013	5	#13472	-1 (-16.7%)
2012	6	#11823	0
2010	6	#11761	-1 (-14.3%)
2009	7	#10644	-5 (-41.7%)
2008	12	#7071	+3 (33.3%)
2006	9	#8531	+3 (50.0%)
2005	6	#11065	-5 (-45.5%)
2004	11	#6841	+3 (37.5%)
2003	8	#8389	-2 (-20.0%)
2001	10	#6786	+1 (11.1%)
2000	9	#7233	+4 (80.0%)
1999	5	#11088	-3 (-37.5%)
1998	8	#7333	-2 (-20.0%)
1997	10	#5961	+3 (42.9%)
1994	7	#7517	0
1993	7	#7374	+1 (16.7%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nefi a boy's or girl's name?

Nefi is primarily a boy's name.

When was Nefi most popular?

Nefi reached its peak popularity in 2008 with 12 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Nefi?

Nefi is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 173 babies in the U.S. since 1980. Its peak was in 2008.

Explore More

By Length4-letter names By OriginHebrew names By EndingNames in -i TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1980–2021