Total births
1,009
Boys' name · since 1888
Cephus
Since 1888, U.S. Social Security records show 1,009 babies named Cephus, peaking in 1922. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,009
- total births
- 1888–2007
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 17%
- born in that decade
Cephus is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 1,009 have been recorded since 1888.
Social Security Administration records show Cephus recorded 1,009 times among boys since 1888, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1888 to 2007.
- 1,009 total births
- 1888–2007 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 17% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,009 boys have been named Cephus since 1888, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2007.
- 1,009
- total births
- 1888–2007
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 17%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
17% of everyone ever named Cephus was born in this single decade.
1922
Single peak year
30 babies were named Cephus in 1922 - its busiest year on record.
Cephus's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Cephus's SSA record in two at 1945 and the more recent half accounts for 46% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 54%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1909, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1922 peak of 30, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Cephus at a glance
Last recorded 2007Peak year
1922
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1888
Cephus popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1888–2007
- Peak year (1922)
- 30
- Annual births at peak, across 120 years of records
Cephus by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Cephus's strongest decade.
173 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 17% of all-time use.
Cephus births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 6
1880s
6 births
- 1890s 6
1890s
6 births
- 1900s 47
1900s
47 births
- 1910s
1910s
128 births
- 1920s
1920s
173 births
- 1930s
1930s
123 births
- 1940s
1940s
144 births
- 1950s
1950s
143 births
- 1960s
1960s
112 births
- 1970s 59
1970s
59 births
- 1980s 42
1980s
42 births
- 1990s 16
1990s
16 births
- 2000s 10
2000s
10 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 173 births (17% of all-time use).
How Cephus compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Cephus's total volume
Cephus vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Cephus by state
Where Cephus concentrates geographically, total births since 1888
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Alabama | | 31 | 3.1% |
| #2 | South Carolina | | 21 | 2.1% |
| #3 | North Carolina | | 15 | 1.5% |
| #4 | Virginia | | 5 | 0.5% |
Alabama share of Cephus's total US births 3.1%
Even split
31 of 1,009 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Cephus? ▼
Since 1888, Social Security records show 1,009 babies named Cephus. The most recent recorded year was 2007. Its busiest year on record was 1922, with 30 births.
When was Cephus most popular? ▼
Cephus was most popular in the 1920s decade with 173 total births. The single peak year was 1922.
Where is Cephus most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Cephus are Alabama (31 births), South Carolina (21 births), North Carolina (15 births).
How long has the name Cephus been used? ▼
Cephus has been recorded in Social Security data since 1888, spanning 120 years of data through 2007.
What names are similar to Cephus? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Cephas, Cepeda. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Cephus's data
- Cephus's decade-level peak was the 1920s (173 total births); usage has since declined to 10 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Alabama records the most Cephuss (31 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Alabama names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Cephus
Nearby Names Like Cephus
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Cephus
Compare Cephus side by side: Cephus vs Cephas Cephus vs Cepeda
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1888–2007 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Cephus: Baby Name Since 1888 - 1,009 Births, Peak 1922." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/cephus. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Cephus draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.