Japheth: Name Meaning, Origin, and Popularity

Pronunciation: j-ahph-ehth
Origin: Israel
gender-male

Emmy Samtani

Emmy Samtani

Emmy is the founder of Kiindred and mother to 3 little ones. Over the last 4 years, she has worked with some of the most credible experts in the parenting space and is a keen contributor on all things parenthood.
Updated on Apr 14, 2025 · 1 min read
Region Origin: Western Asia
Meaning: May he extend

Japheth is a Hebrew and Aramaic name that means "may He extend" or "beautiful. " It is derived from the Aramaic root פתה (p-t-h), meaning "to extend, " and the Hebrew root יפה (y-p-h), meaning "beauty. " Japheth is significant in the biblical narrative as one of the three sons of Noah, along with Shem and Ham. The name has been used in various contexts, including biblical literature, and even as a character in musicals and novels. :, ). In the biblical narrative, Japheth is associated with the expansion of his descendants across Eurasia. He is considered to represent a middle ground between the primitive self-awareness of Ham and the evolved worldview of Shem. The name is also significant in Jewish and Christian traditions, symbolizing the development of a theory of mind and the expansion of human civilization. The name Japheth has been used both as a given name and a surname. It has Hebrew and African origins and is popularly seen in the Torah. In modern times, the name has gained popularity in various cultures, including its use in Stephen Schwartz’s musical "Children of Eden" and Madeleine L’Engle’s novel "Many Waters".

Japheth Name Popularity Data

chat-overall Japheth is currently #6872 in the popularity of the name rankings.
gender-female Boy: Japheth is currently #2968 on Kiindred Boy Names

Popularity Trend Chart

Source: Social Security Administration

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