Jafer is of Arabic origin, derived from the root 'jafa' which means 'to excel'. It is composed of two parts: 'ja-' meaning 'excellence', and '-fer' indicating one who possesses that excellence. Thus, Jafer translates to 'the excellent one'. This name has a rich history, being used among Muslim communities worldwide. It was notably borne by prominent figures such as Ja'far al-Sadiq, the sixth Shia Imam.
The name Jafer has seen a resurgence in popularity recently, with five babies being named Jafer in both 2011 and 2023. This brings the total number of newborns named Jafer over these two years to ten.