NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Japheth

Japheth of Hebrew origin means "he enlarges, he expands".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Japheth is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Japheth popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 7 births.

This profile covers 45 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2004 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 45 living people in the UK are called Japheth. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Japheth ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2007, when 7 boys were registered as Japheth.
  • About 45 living people in the UK are estimated to have Japheth as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4270

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2007

7 births

Estimated living

45

2026

Meaning

What does Japheth mean?

The name Japheth is a biblical name that originates from the Hebrew language. It is derived from the Hebrew root word "yafah," which means "to be fair" or "to be beautiful." The name was first mentioned in the Book of Genesis, where Japheth was one of the three sons of Noah, along with Shem and Ham.

In the biblical account, Japheth and his brothers were responsible for repopulating the earth after the Great Flood. The name Japheth is associated with the descendants of Noah who are believed to have settled in the regions of Europe, Asia Minor, and parts of the Middle East.

The name Japheth has a rich historical significance in various cultures and religious traditions. In Greek mythology, Japheth was known as Iapetos, one of the Titans who fought against the Olympian gods. In the Islamic tradition, Japheth is referred to as Yafith, and he is mentioned in the Qur'an as one of the sons of Noah.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Japheth can be found in the Bible, where he is mentioned as the son of Noah. However, there are few historical figures with this name throughout the centuries.

One notable person named Japheth was Japheth ben Eli, a Jewish scholar and commentator who lived in the 11th century. He wrote extensively on the Talmud and Jewish law.

Another individual with the name Japheth was Japheth ben Nuri, a 10th-century Karaite Jewish scholar and exegete from Jerusalem. He was known for his work on the Hebrew Bible and his contributions to the Karaite movement.

In the 17th century, Japheth Schwarz was a German Lutheran theologian and philosopher who wrote on the harmony between reason and faith. He was born in 1592 and died in 1637.

Japheth Nouri was an Armenian merchant and diplomat who lived in the 18th century. He was born in 1709 and served as a representative of the Armenian community in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).

Japheth Randolph was an American politician and lawyer who served as the first Attorney General of Virginia in the late 18th century. He was born in 1723 and died in 1799.

These are some of the notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Japheth, a name with deep roots in biblical and cultural traditions, symbolizing beauty and a connection to the descendants of Noah.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Japheth over time

The chart below shows babies named Japheth registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Japheth, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Japheth
02457200420142024

Decades

Japheth by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Japheth was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #4530 7 2
2010s #4087 24 6
2000s #3098 14 3

Related

Names similar to Japheth

FAQ

Japheth: questions and answers

How popular is the name Japheth in the UK right now?

In 2024, Japheth was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Japheth most popular?

The peak year on record was 2007, with 7 babies registered as Japheth in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Japheth?

Japheth of Hebrew origin means "he enlarges, he expands".

How many people are called Japheth in the UK?

A total of 45 babies have been registered as Japheth across the 11 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.