UK boy's name
Naftuli
Of Hebrew origin, meaning "my struggle with God".
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.
Naftuli is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Naftuli 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 2014, with 8 births.
This profile covers 66 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 2005 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 66 living people in the UK are called Naftuli. 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
- • Naftuli ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 8 boys were registered as Naftuli.
- • About 66 living people in the UK are estimated to have Naftuli 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
2014
8 births
Estimated living
66
2026
Meaning
What does Naftuli mean?
The name Naftuli has its origins in the Jewish culture and can be traced back to the Hebrew language. It is a variant spelling of the name Naphtali, which is derived from the biblical figure of the same name, who was one of the sons of Jacob and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The name Naphtali is believed to have originated from the Hebrew word "naftul," meaning "wrestling" or "struggle," reflecting the struggle between Jacob and his wife Rachel, who had difficulty conceiving Naphtali. The name Naftuli is a diminutive form of Naphtali, often used as a term of endearment or affection.
In the Bible, the name Naphtali is mentioned several times, particularly in the Book of Genesis and the Book of Numbers, where the tribe of Naphtali is listed among the twelve tribes of Israel. The name also appears in various ancient Jewish texts, such as the Talmud and the Midrash, where it is associated with wisdom, courage, and strength.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Naftuli can be found in the writings of the medieval Jewish philosopher and scholar, Rashi (1040-1105 CE), who used the name in his commentaries on the Torah. Another prominent figure bearing the name was Naftuli Hertz Wessely (1725-1805), a Hebrew writer and philosopher who played a significant role in the Jewish Enlightenment movement known as the Haskalah.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Naftuli. These include:
1. Naftuli Zvi Yehuda Berlin (1816-1893), a renowned Russian-Lithuanian rabbi and Talmudic scholar. 2. Naftuli Hirsch Katzenelenbögen (1668-1756), a German rabbi and author of the influential work "Birkat HaTorah." 3. Naftuli Zvi Margolies (1781-1844), a Polish-Lithuanian rabbi and author of the influential work "Shas Vilna." 4. Naftuli Zvi Yehuda Weissmandl (1914-1957), a Holocaust survivor and prominent figure in the Rescue Committee in Slovakia during World War II. 5. Naftuli Hertz Levine (1887-1961), a Ukrainian-born American rabbi and author of numerous works on Jewish law and ethics.
While the name Naftuli may not be as common in modern times, it still holds significant cultural and historical significance within the Jewish community, serving as a reminder of the rich heritage and traditions associated with this ancient name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Naftuli over time
The chart below shows babies named Naftuli registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 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 Naftuli, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Naftuli by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Naftuli 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 | #4008 | 17 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3557 | 40 | 8 |
| 2000s | #4111 | 9 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Naftuli
- Noah 72,596
- Nathan 46,860
- Nicholas 15,983
- Nathaniel 12,151
- Niall 5,746
- Nicolas 3,825
- Nico 3,532
- Nate 2,029
- Nikodem 1,872
- Noel 1,865
- Ned 1,614
- Neo 1,563
FAQ
Naftuli: questions and answers
How popular is the name Naftuli in the UK right now?
In 2024, Naftuli was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Naftuli most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 8 babies registered as Naftuli in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Naftuli?
Of Hebrew origin, meaning "my struggle with God".
How many people are called Naftuli in the UK?
A total of 66 babies have been registered as Naftuli across the 15 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.