Ephraim - A very unique male name
Ephraim at a glance
Ephraim is ranked #980 among boy baby names in 2025, with 188 births in 2025. It peaked in 2017 at #856 and first appeared on the charts in 1912.
- Rank in 2025
- #980
- Births in 2025
- 188
- Peak year
- 2017 (#856)
- First appeared
- 1912
- Trend
- #981 in 2020 → #980 in 2025 (Rising)
- Popularity
- 1 in 7,799 boys
- Visitor rating
- 5.0/5 (11 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 7,799 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Ephraim peaked in popularity 9 years ago in 2017 on position 856.
Famous with this name
Molly Ephraim
Kelsi Ephraim
Ephraim Birney
How would you rate Ephraim, 1-5?
Ephraim is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Ephraim is currently topping the baby name charts in Idaho at position #346 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,959.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Ephraim is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Ephraim origin and meaning
Hebrew — biblical
From Hebrew Efrayim — 'fruitful,' the name Joseph gives his second son in Genesis: 'God has made me fruitful'
Ephraim is a major biblical name: Joseph's second son, whose tribe became the leading tribe of the northern kingdom of Israel, so that 'Ephraim' stands for Israel itself in the prophets. The name means 'fruitful,' explained in Genesis itself. In the US it has always been rare and steady, used since 1912, with a small peak in 2017 amid the old-testament revival.
Attested etymology
Ephraim is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Ephraim, pop culture references for the name Ephraim and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Ephraim
We've found the following names that sound similar to Ephraim, sorted by popularity.
Efrain / Efren / Efraim / Evren / Efrem / Ebrahim / Ephram / Ebrima / Ephriam / Efrayim /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 980 |
| 2024 | 956 |
| 2023 | 1001 |
| 2022 | 1082 |
| 2021 | 995 |
| 2020 | 981 |
| 2019 | 975 |
| 2018 | 955 |
| 2017 | 856 |
| 2016 | 868 |
| 2015 | 935 |
| 2014 | 918 |
| 2013 | 958 |
| 2012 | 1017 |
| 2011 | 1131 |
| 2010 | 1164 |
| 2009 | 1067 |
| 2008 | 1040 |
| 2007 | 1136 |
| 2006 | 1101 |
| 2005 | 1111 |
| 2004 | 1151 |
| 2003 | 1318 |
| 2002 | 1469 |
| 2001 | 1713 |
| 2000 | 1272 |
| 1999 | 1543 |
| 1998 | 1412 |
| 1997 | 1687 |
| 1996 | 1766 |
| 1995 | 1431 |
| 1994 | 1440 |
| 1993 | 1619 |
| 1992 | 1453 |
| 1991 | 1431 |
| 1990 | 1279 |
| 1989 | 1295 |
| 1988 | 1281 |
| 1987 | 1080 |
| 1986 | 1164 |
| 1985 | 1354 |
| 1984 | 1140 |
| 1983 | 1192 |
| 1982 | 1298 |
| 1981 | 1426 |
| 1980 | 1298 |
| 1979 | 1321 |
| 1978 | 1570 |
| 1977 | 1006 |
| 1976 | 1285 |
| 1975 | 1137 |
| 1974 | 1053 |
| 1973 | 1297 |
| 1972 | 1405 |
| 1971 | 1261 |
| 1970 | 1339 |
| 1969 | 1706 |
| 1968 | 1109 |
| 1967 | 1279 |
| 1965 | 1256 |
| 1964 | 1236 |
| 1963 | 1229 |
| 1961 | 1291 |
| 1960 | 1146 |
| 1958 | 1424 |
| 1956 | 1265 |
| 1955 | 1631 |
| 1954 | 1399 |
| 1952 | 1267 |
| 1951 | 1089 |
| 1949 | 1445 |
| 1946 | 1429 |
| 1935 | 1406 |
| 1933 | 1562 |
| 1930 | 1157 |
| 1929 | 1376 |
| 1928 | 1495 |
| 1926 | 1289 |
| 1925 | 1133 |
| 1924 | 1476 |
| 1923 | 1113 |
| 1922 | 1636 |
| 1921 | 1161 |
| 1920 | 1497 |
| 1919 | 1553 |
| 1918 | 1225 |
| 1916 | 1299 |
| 1915 | 1339 |
| 1914 | 910 |
| 1912 | 860 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Idaho | 346 |
| Utah | 388 |
| Pennsylvania | 586 |
| New York | 590 |
| Indiana | 635 |
| Oklahoma | 730 |
| New Jersey | 790 |
| North Carolina | 794 |
| Arizona | 799 |
| Wisconsin | 819 |
| Washington | 834 |
| Maryland | 842 |
| Michigan | 860 |
| Missouri | 902 |
| Florida | 1078 |
| Tennessee | 1079 |
| Virginia | 1138 |
| Georgia | 1256 |
| California | 1263 |
| Ohio | 1336 |
| Texas | 1959 |
Even more about Ephraim
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Ephraim a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Ephraim?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
EF-ree-um · /ˈɛfriəm/
Readings split between EF-ree-um, ee-FRAY-im and EF-rym; the data lists 2 syllables, matching the compressed EF-rym reading.
Around the world
- Efrayim (Hebrew) — The original Hebrew form
- Yefrem (Russian) — The Russian form of the same name
Spellings and nicknames
- Efrain — The Spanish form (Efraín), a separate established name
- Ephrem — The Syriac and Greek form, borne by St Ephrem
Famous bearers
- Ephraim — Biblical figure, second son of Joseph and founder of one of the leading tribes of Israel (Biblical) Historical
- Ephraim Kishon — Israeli satirist and author, one of Israel's best-known writers (1924–2005) Contemporary
Style
BiblicalClassic
Why parents choose it
Parents choose Ephraim for deep Old Testament roots in a name that has never been fashionable — biblical without being Noah or Elijah. It feels scholarly and steadfast.
Worth knowing
- Pronunciation is genuinely unsettled in English — pick one and teach it
- Efrain (the Spanish form) is more common in the US, so Ephraim is often misread as it
