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Naftali

♂ Boy

Pronounced naf-ta-LEE /naf.ta.ˈli/Medium

Meaning: My struggle, my strifeMedium

In 30 seconds: Naftali is a Hebrew name meaning 'my struggle' or 'my strife', borne in the Bible by one of Jacob's sons.

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Origin MediumHebrew, Biblical Hebrew [1]

MeaningMy struggle, my strife

U.S. rank (2025)#2379 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births58 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2018

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,023

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

The name comes from a Hebrew root tied to wrestling and struggle, giving the sense of 'my struggle'. In the Bible Naphtali is a son of Jacob and the founder of one of the tribes of Israel, which has kept the name in steady Jewish use.

It carries a rolling four-syllable rhythm distinctive among Hebrew names. Bearers include former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Olympic distance runner Naftali Temu.

Did you know? Naftali appears in the Old Testament, which helped preserve it across centuries of Jewish and Christian naming traditions.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Naftali — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Naftali Bennett (1972–present)
Israeli politician who served as Prime Minister of Israel from 2021 to 2022.
★Naftali Temu (1945–2003)
Kenyan long-distance runner, 10,000 m gold medalist at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

If you like Naftali…

Yisrael— A Hebrew name also rooted in wrestling and struggle, like Naftali.

Asher— Another son of Jacob whose name, like Naftali, stays in Jewish use.

Avraham— a fellow Hebrew choice

Gadiel— a fellow Hebrew choice

Danilo— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Naftali

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Naftali mean?

Naftali is usually explained as meaning 'my struggle, my strife' and is most often linked with Hebrew tradition.

How do you pronounce Naftali?

It's commonly said naf-ta-LEE /naf.ta.ˈli/.

Is Naftali a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Naftali is used as a boy name.

How popular is Naftali?

In 2024, Naftali ranked #2066 in the U.S. for boys, with 73 births recorded.