Nephthys

NEFF-thees

Egyptian, Greek

"lady of the house, lady of the temple"

Nephthys Origin and Meaning

The name Nephthys is a girl's name meaning "lady of the house, lady of the temple".

Nephthys is the Greek form of Nebet-Het, an epithet used to refer to an Ancient Egyptian goddess of mourning, the night, and death, but also of healing, childbirth, protection and magic. Nephthys was a sister of Isis and mirrored how her sister symbolised the experience of birth, by symbolising the experience of death. Her name is a surprisingly usable choice, with a mystical, distinct sound.

It was used by author Morowa Yejide in her novel Creatures of Passage, which was nominated for the 2022 Women's Prize for Fiction.