Jafeth

Meaning of Jafeth

In its Hebrew origin, Jafeth—an alternate spelling of the biblical Japheth—derives from a root meaning “enlarge” or “beautify,” evoking a sense of expansion and grace. As the youngest son of Noah, it carries a classical resonance valued by parents seeking depth without cliché. In the United States, its usage remains modest—fewer than two dozen annual births and a ranking teetering in the 800s and 900s—so it’s the kind of name unlikely to elbow its way onto playground popularity polls, yet equally unlikely to fade into obscurity. Spanish speakers pronounce it hah-FETH (/xaˈfet/), underscoring its cross-cultural adaptability and phonetic clarity.

Pronunciation

Spanish

• Pronunced as hah-FETH (/xaˈfet/)

• Japheth
• Jephthah
• Jafet