Naftali

Naftali is a Hebrew biblical name connected with struggling or wrestling. In Genesis, Naftali is a son of Jacob and Bilhah; Rachel gives him the name while speaking about her struggle with her sister. This family context explains the traditional meaning and distinguishes the person who names him from his biological mother.

The name later identifies one of the tribes of Israel, giving it a place in both a family narrative and a wider communal history. Naphtali is a familiar spelling in English Bibles, while Naftali more closely reflects a common modern Hebrew representation. Families may choose it to honor a relative, maintain a Jewish naming tradition, or connect with the biblical story. Its meaning belongs to that narrative rather than predicting a life of conflict.