Hephzibah
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "my delight is in her".
Name Census estimates that about 141 living Americans carry the first name Hephzibah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Hephzibah today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hephzibah births was 2012 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hephzibah. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
141
~ 1 in 2,430,882 Americans
Peak year
2012
10 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,445
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Hephzibah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hephzibah from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 75 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Hephzibah remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hephzibah by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Hephzibah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Hephzibah
The name Hephzibah has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, with roots dating back to the Old Testament era. It is derived from the Hebrew phrase "hephzi-bah," which means "my delight is in her." This name was often used to symbolize a deep affection and admiration for a cherished individual, particularly in the context of a divine-human relationship.
One of the earliest and most significant historical references to the name Hephzibah can be found in the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament. In Isaiah 62:4, the prophet speaks of Jerusalem being called "Hephzibah" as a symbolic representation of God's renewed favor and delight towards the city after a period of estrangement.
The name Hephzibah gained further prominence in the late 7th century BCE when it was bestowed upon the wife of King Hezekiah of Judah, as recorded in 2 Kings 21:1. This royal association added to the name's prestige and may have contributed to its continued use among the ancient Israelites.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Hephzibah. One of the earliest recorded examples is Hephzibah, the mother of the ancient Jewish scholar and philosopher Philo of Alexandria, who lived from approximately 20 BCE to 50 CE.
Another significant figure was Hephzibah Mendes, a Jewish woman born in England in 1667. She became widely known for her philanthropic efforts, particularly in supporting the education of underprivileged children and the establishment of charitable institutions.
In the 18th century, Hephzibah Rawnsley (1735-1825) was a prominent English Quaker and writer who advocated for women's rights and social reforms. Her contributions to literature and activism made her a notable figure during her time.
Hephzibah Cookson (1779-1823) was an English Quaker minister and writer who played a significant role in the abolitionist movement, advocating for the abolition of slavery in the British Empire.
Lastly, Hephzibah Jenkins (1825-1900) was an American educator and missionary who dedicated her life to establishing schools and promoting education among Native American communities in the United States.
These historical figures, spanning different eras and regions, exemplify the enduring legacy of the name Hephzibah and its association with individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields and causes.
People
Hephzibah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hephzibah as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hephzibah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hephzibah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 141 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hephzibah going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,430,882 US residents.
Is Hephzibah a common name?
We classify Hephzibah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 142 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hephzibah most popular?
The single biggest year for Hephzibah was 2012, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hephzibah is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hephzibah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hephzibah in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.