Boy name · Aramaic
Cephas
“rock”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Cephas.
Explore Cephas further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Cephas — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Kēphā is rock, and it is the name Jesus gives Simon — Peter is the Greek translation of it, Petros, and Paul calls him Cephas throughout the letters. The pun in "on this rock I will build my church" works in Aramaic and only half works in Greek.
So Peter and Cephas are the same name in two languages, and the English-speaking world overwhelmingly picked the translation over the original.
Two syllables, said SEE-fus. On our vibe map it is Dark Academia with Heirloom weight.
More Aramaic names
Cephas sits in our Aramaic set — these share its roots.
All Aramaic names →Cephas — common questions
Is Cephas a boy or girl name?
Cephas is traditionally a boy name of Aramaic origin.
What does the name Cephas mean?
Cephas means “rock” of Aramaic origin. Kēphā is rock, and it is the name Jesus gives Simon — Peter is the Greek translation of it, Petros, and Paul calls him Cephas throughout the letters. The pun in "on this rock I will build my church" works in Aramaic and only half works in Greek.
Where does the name Cephas come from?
Cephas is Aramaic in origin. So Peter and Cephas are the same name in two languages, and the English-speaking world overwhelmingly picked the translation over the original.
What are common nicknames for Cephas?
Ceph — the short-forms parents most often use for Cephas.
How popular is Cephas?
Cephas did not make the top 1,000 boys' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Cephas you might want for the nursery.