Cephas
/S-IY-F-AH-S/
The Aramaic kepha, meaning 'rock' or 'stone' — the name given by Jesus to Simon the fisherman (John 1:42), which Paul renders as Cephas in his letters while the Gospels translate it into Greek as Petros (Peter). The Aramaic form preserves the original word Jesus himself used, and its meaning of immovable solidity became the theological foundation for the apostle's role as the 'rock' on which the church was to be built (Matthew 16:18).
Get Cephas's full report — patron saint, feast day & a portrait — freeQuick — what every Christian parent asks about Cephas:
How well does Cephas fit your family?
This page tells you what Cephas means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against your family & your heritage, and your baby's birth details.
Unlock Cephas's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family & heritage, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Yes — Cephas is a Christian boy name of Aramaic origin, meaning “The Aramaic kepha, meaning 'rock' or 'stone' — the name given by Jesus to Simon the fisherman (John 1:42), which Paul renders as Cephas in his letters while the Gospels translate it into Greek as Petros (Peter). The Aramaic form preserves the original word Jesus himself used, and its meaning of immovable solidity became the theological foundation for the apostle's role as the 'rock' on which the church was to be built (Matthew 16:18).”.
Cephas is a boy's name of Aramaic origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "The Aramaic kepha, meaning 'rock' or 'stone' — the name given by Jesus to Simon the fisherman (John 1:42), which Paul renders as Cephas in his letters while the Gospels translate it into Greek as Petros (Peter). The Aramaic form preserves the original word Jesus himself used, and its meaning of immovable solidity became the theological foundation for the apostle's role as the 'rock' on which the church was to be built (Matthew 16:18)." and belongs to the Divine cluster — names rooted in sacred meaning and spiritual tradition.
Common among Arab families, Cephas carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
The patron saint & feast day behind Cephas
Many Christian names carry a patron saint and a feast day (name day) — a tradition of choosing a name for the saint a child is born near, or one the family holds dear. Cephas lives in this tradition of meaning and heritage.
NameRoot connects the dots. See Cephas's patron saint, its feast day, and whether it aligns with your baby's birth — alongside its full family score.
See Cephas's saint & feast day →What does Cephas's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Cephas resonates in either tradition.
Cephas's destiny number is 7 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Cephas's full reading →
Does Cephas go with your family's names?
Cephas breaks into 5 sounds: /S-IY-F-AH-S/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Cephas sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Cephas beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Cephas — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Cephas
If Cephas resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian boy names, common in Arab families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian boy names from the Divine cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian boy names that open with the same syllables as Cephas
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Cephas — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Cephas
What does the name Cephas mean?
Cephas means "The Aramaic kepha, meaning 'rock' or 'stone' — the name given by Jesus to Simon the fisherman (John 1:42), which Paul renders as Cephas in his letters while the Gospels translate it into Greek as Petros (Peter). The Aramaic form preserves the original word Jesus himself used, and its meaning of immovable solidity became the theological foundation for the apostle's role as the 'rock' on which the church was to be built (Matthew 16:18).." It is a boy name of Aramaic origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Cephas a boy or girl name?
Cephas is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Cephas?
Cephas is of Aramaic origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among Arab families.
Is Cephas a Christian name?
Yes. Cephas is a boy name traditionally used in Christian families, of Aramaic origin.
What does Cephas mean in Aramaic?
Cephas originates from Aramaic, where it means "The Aramaic kepha, meaning 'rock' or 'stone' — the name given by Jesus to Simon the fisherman (John 1:42), which Paul renders as Cephas in his letters while the Gospels translate it into Greek as Petros (Peter). The Aramaic form preserves the original word Jesus himself used, and its meaning of immovable solidity became the theological foundation for the apostle's role as the 'rock' on which the church was to be built (Matthew 16:18).."
What are common nicknames for Cephas?
Common short forms of Cephas include Cepi, Ceph.
What is the numerology of Cephas?
Cephas has a Pythagorean destiny number of 7 — introspection and spiritual wisdom.
See how Cephas scores for your family
NameRoot is the only baby-name app that scores every name across 6 signals against your specific family context. Download free — Cephas is waiting.
Get NameRoot — free