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Jephtah as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Jephtah

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The baby name Jephtah is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced JEP-thah (IPA: /ˈdʒɛfθə/).

Jephtah is Hebrew in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: JEP-thah (IPA: /ˈdʒɛfθə/)

What is the meaning of the name Jephtah ?

The baby name Jephtah is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced JEP-thah (IPA: /ˈdʒɛfθə/).

Jephtah is Hebrew in Origin.

Jephtah comes from the Hebrew Yiftach/Yiftah (Hebrew: יפתח), meaning “he opens” or “God opens the way.” In the Hebrew Bible, Jephthah appears in Judges 11–12 as a Gileadite judge and warrior, remembered for his victorious campaign against the Ammonites and for the fateful vow concerning his daughter - an episode that has shaped the name’s solemn aura. The Hebrew root p-t-ḥ conveys opening or release, giving the name an undertone of breakthrough and fresh beginnings.

The English-standard biblical form is Jephthah; related spellings include Jephtha (notably in Handel’s oratorio), Jeptha, and the streamlined Jephtah. Cognates abroad include Yiftach/Iftach (Hebrew), Jefta (Dutch, Scandinavian, and South Slavic), and Jefte or Jefté (Spanish and Portuguese). The name surfaced among English Puritans and early American Protestants who favored Old Testament figures, but it remains uncommon today.

Jephtah is a rare name. It doesn't appear in any of the major national birth registries we track; we found only 30 recorded uses across 4 countries. Expect very few children to share this name.

Jephtah has the following similar or variant Names

Jephtah – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
NG 0 #272 1 5,926
GH Boys 0 #356 6 8,138
CM Boys 0 #574 2 12,054
NG Girls 0 #825 2 15,093
NG Boys 0 #936 16 16,906
ZA Boys 0 #1,270 3 25,619
CM
GH
NG
ZA

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People also ask about Jephtah

Jephtah is predominantly a boy's name, used for boys.
Jephtah is a 2 syllable name, pronounced JEP-thah (IPA: /ˈdʒɛfθə/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Jephthah, Jephtha, Jeftah, Jefta, Yiftach and Yiftah.
Across languages, Jephtah has these equivalents: Hebrew: Yiftach / Yiftah (יפתח), Latin/Greek forms: Iephtas (less common).
Jephtah is a name of Hebrew origin, traditionally used in Israel. It doesn't appear in the major international birth registries we track, but it is an established name within Israel and its diaspora communities.
Yes — Jephtah is a rare name. We found 30 recorded uses of it as a first name across 4 countries, and it doesn't appear in any of the official national popularity rankings we track. If you choose Jephtah, your child is unlikely to share it with anyone in their school year.