Naftali - A very unique male name
Naftali at a glance
Naftali is ranked #1757 among boy baby names in 2025, with 47 births in 2025. It peaked in 1978 at #1299 and first appeared on the charts in 1957.
- Rank in 2025
- #1757
- Births in 2025
- 47
- Peak year
- 1978 (#1299)
- First appeared
- 1957
- Trend
- #1579 in 2020 → #1757 in 2025 (Falling)
- Popularity
- 1 in 31,198 boys
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 31,198 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Naftali peaked in popularity 48 years ago in 1978 on position 1299.
Famous with this name
Naftali Alter
Naftali Uirab
Naftali Bendavid
How would you rate Naftali, 1-5?
Naftali is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Naftali is currently topping the baby name charts in New Jersey at position #392 - and is the least popular in New York at position #597.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Naftali is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Naftali origin and meaning
Hebrew, Biblical
From Hebrew Naftali, explained in Genesis as from naftulim, 'my wrestling' — Rachel names him 'with great wrestlings have I wrestled'
Naftali is the sixth son of Jacob in the Bible, ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and the Hebrew spelling behind the English Naphtali. It is used steadily in Jewish, especially Orthodox and Israeli, families. American use peaked in 2018 and has eased since.
Attested etymology
Naftali is a 7 letter name with 3 syllables.
To see famous people named Naftali, pop culture references for the name Naftali and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Naftali
We've found the following names that sound similar to Naftali, sorted by popularity.
Neftali / Naftuli / Naftoli / Naftula / Naftuly / Neftaly / Nephtali / Naphtali /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 1757 |
| 2024 | 1557 |
| 2023 | 1606 |
| 2022 | 1636 |
| 2021 | 1641 |
| 2020 | 1579 |
| 2019 | 1888 |
| 2018 | 1502 |
| 2017 | 1763 |
| 2016 | 1744 |
| 2015 | 1597 |
| 2014 | 1602 |
| 2013 | 1727 |
| 2012 | 1737 |
| 2011 | 2010 |
| 2010 | 1851 |
| 2009 | 1691 |
| 2008 | 1739 |
| 2007 | 1818 |
| 2006 | 1471 |
| 2005 | 1514 |
| 2004 | 2156 |
| 2003 | 1894 |
| 2002 | 2157 |
| 2001 | 2364 |
| 2000 | 1765 |
| 1999 | 2377 |
| 1998 | 2040 |
| 1997 | 1527 |
| 1996 | 1807 |
| 1995 | 2293 |
| 1994 | 2160 |
| 1993 | 1600 |
| 1992 | 1651 |
| 1991 | 2242 |
| 1990 | 1726 |
| 1989 | 1831 |
| 1988 | 1791 |
| 1987 | 1625 |
| 1986 | 1404 |
| 1985 | 1569 |
| 1984 | 2490 |
| 1983 | 1659 |
| 1982 | 1841 |
| 1981 | 1493 |
| 1980 | 1421 |
| 1979 | 1498 |
| 1978 | 1299 |
| 1977 | 1588 |
| 1976 | 1604 |
| 1975 | 1439 |
| 1974 | 1786 |
| 1972 | 1547 |
| 1971 | 1551 |
| 1970 | 1435 |
| 1969 | 1490 |
| 1963 | 1697 |
| 1962 | 1436 |
| 1961 | 1733 |
| 1960 | 1711 |
| 1959 | 1713 |
| 1958 | 1542 |
| 1957 | 1544 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | 392 |
| New York | 597 |
Even more about Naftali
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Naftali a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Naftali?
3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
naf-TAH-lee · /næfˈtɑːli/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Spellings and nicknames
- Naphtali — The English Bible's spelling of the same name
Famous bearers
- Naftali (Naphtali) — Sixth son of Jacob and Bilhah in the Book of Genesis, founder of the tribe of Naphtali; Naftali is the Hebrew form of his name (Biblical) Historical
- Naftali Bennett — Israeli statesman, Prime Minister of Israel 2021–2022 (b. 1972) Contemporary
Style
BiblicalInternational
Why parents choose it
A biblical tribal name with a serving prime minister's modern credibility and deep Jewish roots.
Worth knowing
- English Bible readers know it as Naphtali; the f-spelling will be 'corrected' outside Jewish communities.
