Cephas

Cephas is the form of a biblical name that comes from the Aramaic kepha, a word that conveys the sense of a stone or firm foundation. In the New Testament it is used as a name given to Simon to signal dependability and steadiness.

The name feels solid and timeless, carrying quiet strength rather than flashiness. It often brings to mind the apostolic Peter and the sense of a reliable, grounded presence. Cephas has a slightly formal, vintage tone that works well for families who want a name with substance and a clear story.

Cephas originates from the Aramaic kepha or kēp̄ā, a word meaning a stone or boulder. In the Gospels Jesus gives the apostle Simon the name Kepha, and the Greek New Testament records that name as Κηφᾶς, transliterated into English as Cephas. Around the same time the Greek form Petros and its Latin descendant Peter also became associated with the same individual, so Cephas and Peter are essentially two linguistic reflections of the same nickname or title.

Over centuries Cephas remained primarily a scriptural form, used in translations, theological writing, and among communities that preserve Aramaic or Syriac traditions. It has never been as widely adopted as Peter in everyday naming, but it has persisted as a distinctive, slightly rarer choice that signals direct biblical reference rather than a later vernacular form. Because the name appears in multiple languages and manuscripts, some variation in spelling and usage is natural, and scholars sometimes note both the Aramaic Kepha and the Greek Petros in discussions of the apostle’s name.