Fun Facts About the Name Neftali
- More than 2 thousand babies named Neftali: U.S. records list 2,676 babies given the name Neftali from 1880 through 2025. Even 387 girls received the name Neftali - about 1 girl for every 6 boys.
What Does the Name Neftali Mean?
Neftali is the Spanish form of the Hebrew name Naphtali (נַפְתָּלִי, Naftali), whose established meaning is "my struggle" or "wrestling." The Hebrew name comes from the root פָּתַל (patal), meaning "to twist" or "to wrestle." In the book of Genesis, Rachel gives the name with a wordplay on that root: "With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed" (Genesis 30:8). The customary English rendering of the name is Naphtali, while Spanish Bibles and Spanish-speaking families use Neftalí, stressed on the last syllable.
Neftali Name History & Origins
The name belongs to one of the twelve sons of Jacob in the Hebrew Bible. Naphtali was the sixth son of Jacob and the second son of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant, and he became the ancestor of the Israelite tribe of Naphtali. Greek and Latin versions of the Bible carried the name into European Scripture, where English translations keep the form Naphtali and Spanish translations use Neftalí. The Spanish form, usually written without the accent in English, is the one used as a personal name in Spain and Latin America.
Neftali also forms part of the birth name of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, born Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto. That is a modern personal use of the name, not its source.
How Popular is the Name Neftali?
Neftali 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 2003. Its best rank was #1,595 in 1997.
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 | #12,815 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #18,464 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #11,702 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #13,109 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #9,566 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2010 | #13,132 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #8,341 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2008 | #7,317 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2007 | #6,490 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2006 | #7,755 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #7,060 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2004 | #7,719 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2003 | #5,977 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2002 | #5,619 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2001 | #6,239 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2000 | #5,876 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1999 | #5,592 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1998 | #7,889 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #4,776 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1996 | #4,835 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1995 | #7,380 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #6,225 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1993 | #5,372 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1992 | #8,529 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1991 | #9,121 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #9,001 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #13,223 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #10,459 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,785 | 46 | 0.0027% |
| 2024 | #4,275 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 2023 | #2,983 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 2022 | #2,897 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 2021 | #3,103 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 2020 | #4,376 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2019 | #2,924 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 2018 | #3,215 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2017 | #3,105 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 2016 | #2,540 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 2015 | #3,009 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 2014 | #2,835 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 2013 | #2,935 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 2012 | #2,855 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 2011 | #2,836 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 2010 | #3,162 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 2009 | #2,136 | 64 | 0.0032% |
| 2008 | #2,175 | 62 | 0.0030% |
| 2007 | #2,228 | 60 | 0.0029% |
| 2006 | #2,390 | 52 | 0.0025% |
| 2005 | #2,228 | 54 | 0.0027% |
| 2004 | #2,229 | 52 | 0.0026% |
| 2003 | #1,746 | 70 | 0.0035% |
| 2002 | #2,082 | 52 | 0.0027% |
| 2001 | #1,999 | 54 | 0.0028% |
| 2000 | #1,752 | 64 | 0.0033% |
| 1999 | #2,292 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 1998 | #1,843 | 54 | 0.0028% |
| 1997 | #1,595 | 64 | 0.0034% |
| 1996 | #1,979 | 45 | 0.0024% |
| 1995 | #1,979 | 43 | 0.0023% |
| 1994 | #2,161 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1993 | #2,558 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1992 | #2,029 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 1991 | #2,448 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1990 | #2,151 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1989 | #2,018 | 36 | 0.0018% |
| 1988 | #2,023 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 1987 | #2,044 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 1986 | #2,271 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1985 | #1,856 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 1984 | #1,959 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1983 | #1,890 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1982 | #2,193 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1981 | #2,471 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1980 | #2,154 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1979 | #1,820 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1978 | #1,857 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1977 | #2,331 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1976 | #2,477 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1975 | #2,419 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1974 | #1,873 | 25 | 0.0016% |
| 1973 | #1,965 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1972 | #2,218 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1971 | #2,029 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1970 | #1,833 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1969 | #2,382 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1968 | #2,687 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #2,313 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #2,418 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #2,340 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1964 | #2,020 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1963 | #3,905 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #2,993 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1961 | #2,307 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1960 | #3,019 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #2,501 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1956 | #2,739 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1955 | #3,409 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #3,372 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #4,187 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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.
Explore More Lists with Name Neftali
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with N
How the Name Neftali Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a vivid imagination who can bring inspired messages to the world. You like to enjoy the pleasures of life, and when self is overcome, you can rise to the heights. You have an ability to avoid trouble - that is why you often fails to learn from experiences. You are restless, sociable people-oriented, a lover of change, and a seeker of adventure and new thrills. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Neftali's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Neftali's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.