The first name Ephraim
A boy’s name from Hebrew meaning “ephraim”, “fruitful”.
Pronounced /ˈifɹi.əm/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Ephraim means “ephraim”, “fruitful” in Hebrew.
From Hebrew אֶפְרַיִם (Efráyim, “Ephraim”, literally “fruitful”), via Latin.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 27 boys were named Ephraim, making it the 1,093rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2024, with 32 births (#968).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Ephraim with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Ephraim at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 231 boys born in the United States were named Ephraim, the 988th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2017, when 260 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Ephraim in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Famous people named Ephraim
16 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Ephraim ChambersEnglish writer and encyclopaedist, 1680–1740
- Ephraim McDowellAmerican physician (1771-1830)
- Ephraim George SquierAmerican archaeologist and newspaper editor (1821–1888)
- Ephraim King Wilson IIAmerican politician (1821-1891)
- Ephraim GrahamEquestrian (1888–1962)
- Ephraim of Nea MakriControversial Christian saint, 1384–1426
- Ephraim LongworthEnglish footballer (1887–1968)
- Ephraim BatemanAmerican politician (1780-1829)
- Ephraim II of GeorgiaEastern Orthodox Patriarch (1896–1972)
- Ephraim Avigdor SpeiserAmerican archaeologist (1902–1965)
- Ephraim H. FosterAmerican politician (1794-1854)
- Ephraim ShayAmerican railroad engineer, 1839–1916
More Hebrew boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Ephraim mean?
- Ephraim means “ephraim”, “fruitful” in Hebrew.
- What is the origin of the name Ephraim?
- From Hebrew אֶפְרַיִם (Efráyim, “Ephraim”, literally “fruitful”), via Latin.
- How popular is the name Ephraim?
- In 2025, 27 boys born in England and Wales were named Ephraim, ranking 1,093rd. Its peak was 2024, with 32 births.
- Is Ephraim a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 8,236 US babies named Ephraim since 1880 were boys.
- When was Ephraim most popular?
- 2017 in the United States, when 260 babies were named Ephraim, its highest rank at 848th.
- How do you pronounce Ephraim?
- Ephraim is /ˈifɹi.əm/, 2 syllables.
- Is Ephraim also a surname?
- Yes. Ephraim is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.