Fun Facts About the Name Cephas
- 930 babies named Cephas: U.S. records list 930 babies given the name Cephas from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Cephas Mean?
Cephas is a biblical name meaning 'rock' or 'stone.' It comes from Aramaic kêpâ (כיפא), a word for a rock or crag, and it entered the New Testament through Greek as Κηφᾶς (Kēphas). The Gospel of John explains that this name is translated Petros, the Greek word for 'rock,' which is why the apostle Simon is also called Peter. The name is therefore Aramaic in origin, not Greek, even though its familiar form comes through the Greek New Testament. Its literal sense is 'rock'; the customary English explanation is 'rock' or 'stone.'
Cephas Name History & Origins
In the New Testament, Cephas is the Aramaic name used for Simon Peter. John 1:42 presents Jesus giving the name, and Paul's letters use Cephas in 1 Corinthians (1:12; 3:22; 9:5; 15:5) and Galatians (1:18; 2:9, 11, 14), where Cephas and Peter clearly refer to the same apostle. Because the name was a Semitic byname, Greek-speaking Christians kept it in the transliterated form Κηφᾶς rather than translating it as Petros; the Greek form adds a nominative ending to the Aramaic kêpâ. Latin translators carried the form Cephas into the Latin Bible, and English translations have traditionally used Cephas in the epistles and in John 1:42. In English, Cephas and Peter are not etymologically related: Cephas preserves the Aramaic word, while Peter comes from Greek Petros.
How Popular is the Name Cephas?
Cephas has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1921. Its best rank was #1,026 in 1898.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,070 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2024 | #8,407 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #6,602 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2021 | #6,775 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #6,028 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2019 | #6,151 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #6,405 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #6,756 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2016 | #7,691 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #6,739 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #8,255 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #11,024 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #7,090 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #9,863 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #6,491 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #7,788 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #9,939 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #9,280 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #7,326 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2000 | #10,620 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #6,587 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #6,296 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #6,216 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #6,316 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #6,883 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #6,682 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #5,049 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #5,740 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1981 | #5,607 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #4,188 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #5,459 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #4,660 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #5,727 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #5,585 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #3,603 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #4,128 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #4,032 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #3,406 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #4,011 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #4,048 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1966 | #3,581 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #3,361 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #2,694 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #3,382 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #3,072 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #3,320 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #3,621 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #2,284 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #3,004 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #3,502 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #2,941 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1952 | #2,909 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #2,872 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #2,458 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1949 | #3,360 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1948 | #2,345 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #2,687 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1946 | #2,422 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1945 | #2,593 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1944 | #3,159 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1943 | #3,274 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #1,959 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1941 | #2,366 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1940 | #2,201 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1939 | #1,973 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1938 | #3,228 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #2,348 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1936 | #3,203 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1935 | #2,147 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1934 | #1,947 | 14 | 0.0014% |
| 1933 | #2,780 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1932 | #2,112 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1931 | #2,115 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1930 | #2,200 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1929 | #2,800 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1928 | #1,974 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1927 | #3,205 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1926 | #2,213 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1925 | #1,881 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1924 | #1,903 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1923 | #2,470 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1922 | #1,900 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1921 | #1,594 | 23 | 0.0021% |
| 1920 | #1,831 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1919 | #1,890 | 17 | 0.0017% |
| 1918 | #2,085 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1917 | #1,828 | 17 | 0.0018% |
| 1916 | #1,782 | 17 | 0.0019% |
| 1915 | #1,989 | 14 | 0.0016% |
| 1914 | #2,692 | 7 | 0.0011% |
| 1913 | #2,308 | 7 | 0.0014% |
| 1912 | #2,325 | 6 | 0.0014% |
| 1905 | #1,263 | 5 | 0.0038% |
| 1900 | #1,189 | 6 | 0.0040% |
| 1898 | #1,026 | 6 | 0.0049% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Cephas Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Cephas's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Cephas's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.