Jafet

Jafet is a form of Japheth used in Spanish and Portuguese. In the Book of Genesis, Japheth is one of Noah's sons, alongside Shem and Ham. The name has often been connected with a Hebrew expression for enlargement, although its original derivation is not completely certain. Its biblical family and story are clearer than any single literal translation.

For families who read the Bible in Spanish or Portuguese, Jafet can be the familiar form of a scriptural name that looks quite different in English. That makes it useful to compare the versions used by different generations of a family before choosing a spelling. It has a compact shape while retaining a direct connection to the Genesis account, rather than depending on a modern adaptation or a newly combined name.