Naftali
Boy name · #2374 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Naftali? In official American birth records, Naftali has been tracked continuously since 1951, giving it 74 years of documented American history.
Naftali ranks #2374 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 58 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2253, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 31,034 boys born in 2025 was named Naftali.
The 74-year story
Naftali first appears in the Social Security records in 1951, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2018, when 83 boys were named Naftali — good for #1823 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Naftali per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Naftali against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Naftali in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Naftali is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Naftali will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Naftali is most common
State-level data for Naftali is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Naftali
Statistically, parents drawn to Naftali tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Neftali, Wali, Nicolai, Denali, and Naftuli.
NeftaliWaliNicolaiDenaliNaftuliNakaiNazarethNatan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Naftali | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 58 | #2363 |
| 2024 | 73 | #2057 |
| 2023 | 75 | #2014 |
| 2022 | 74 | #2039 |
| 2021 | 61 | #2277 |
| 2020 | 67 | #2094 |
| 2019 | 68 | #2110 |
| 2018 | 83 | #1823 |
| 2017 | 49 | #2566 |
| 2016 | 52 | #2437 |
| 2015 | 59 | #2253 |
| 2014 | 59 | #2256 |
| 2013 | 46 | #2594 |
| 2012 | 57 | #2270 |
| 2011 | 37 | #3046 |
| 2010 | 40 | #2914 |
| 2009 | 64 | #2119 |
| 2008 | 55 | #2345 |
| 2007 | 45 | #2684 |
| 2006 | 70 | #1919 |
| 2005 | 66 | #1922 |
| 2004 | 27 | #3456 |
| 2003 | 35 | #2780 |
| 2002 | 23 | #3670 |
| 2001 | 21 | #3842 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Naftali?
In official American birth records, the name Naftali first appeared in 1951 (over 74 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 74 years.
Is Naftali a popular boy name?
Naftali ranked #2374 among boys in 2025 with 58 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2253.
When was the name Naftali most popular?
Naftali peaked in 2018, when 83 American boys received the name (ranked #1823 that year). Since 2018 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Naftali?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 31,034 newborn American boys was named Naftali. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.