Jephta

The name Jephta has its roots in the Bible and comes from Hebrew, where it carries the meaning 'He (God) opens.' In the Old Testament, Jephta is mentioned as a judge of Israel.

What does the name Jephta mean?

Jephta is a biblical name of Hebrew origin and means 'He (God) opens.' In the Bible, Jephta is known as a judge of Israel who is forced to sacrifice his daughter due to a vow made to JHWH (God of Israel). In the German language, the biblical figure is also referred to as Jiftach. Other variants of the name include Jephtah, Jephthah, and Jeftah.

Where does the name Jephta come from?

The name Jephta is an ancient Hebrew male first name, translated as 'He (God) opens.' The etymology refers to the ancient Hebrew word 'pathach,' which means 'to open.' This name has biblical origins.

How do you pronounce Jephta?

The pronunciation of Jephta is two syllables: 'Jep-hta' [ˈjɛfta] or [ˈjɛpta]. The short 'e' sound meets the distinctive consonant cluster -pht-, which gives the name a special, historical resonance. The open 'a' at the end softens the strict impression. Jephta has an archaic and characterful sound that is serious, willful, and imbued with biblical depth.

Popularity

In Germany, Jephta is a rare first name. In 2017, it ranked 3,867th on the list of the most common male first names. Over the last ten years, the name has been given less than ten times, placing it 8,008th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 9,767th. Information on the global popularity and rankings of Jephta in various countries can be found on the respective top-30 chart pages.