Jafari

Meaning of Jafari

Jafari, pronounced juh-FAH-ree (/dʒəˈfɑri/), is a masculine name of Arabic origin meaning “descendant of Jaʿfar,” itself drawn from a root signifying “small stream” or “rivulet.” Steeped in the legacy of the sixth Shiʿite Imam, Jaʿfar al-Sadiq, the name evokes a scholarly and spiritual lineage that has rippled through centuries of Islamic thought. In the United States, Jafari has never been common but has displayed a remarkably steady presence: first entering Social Security rankings in the early 1970s around #646, rising briefly into the mid-600s in the 1980s, and since then stabilizing between the high-600s and low-900s—even as recently as 2023, when seven newborn boys bore the name at rank #922. This modest fluctuation underscores its enduring, if niche, appeal among parents drawn to its exotic sonority and academic resonance. The name’s rolling, polysyllabic cadence, with echoes of Latin-style assonance, lends it both analytical depth and a quietly lyrical grace, positioning Jafari as a choice that bridges cultural traditions with a contemporary, multicultural sensibility.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as juh-FAH-ree (/dʒəˈfɑri/)

• Jafar