Effa
A girl's name of Greek origin with 312 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Effa peaked during early twentieth-century America, when 20 babies received this name in a single year (1889). That era was defined by heritage-rooted naming, and Effa has since stepped out of the spotlight, giving it a vintage quality that many parents now find appealing.
Effa is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Effa is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, a diminutive form of Euphemia, from the Greek eu (good) and pheme (speech, voice) — meaning 'well-spoken' or 'of good repute.' Saint Euphemia was an early Christian martyr whose steadfast faith made her one of the most venerated saints in the Eastern Church.
Effa Manley (1897–1981) was the pioneering co-owner of the Newark Eagles in the Negro Leagues — the first and only woman to own a major Negro League team. She was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006, giving this rare name an extraordinary legacy of baseball history and Black achievement.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Effa belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their open, warm ending — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Within the Greek naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Greek names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Effa’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Effa has 37+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 12 | #4310 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 46 | #4387 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 42 | #3711 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 26 | #1724 | ▼ |
| 1890s | 79 | #1178 | ▼ |
| 1880s | 107 | #653 | — |
The Story of Effa
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1889, Effa is a name steeped in history. Girls named Effa are most likely born between 1880 and 1899.
How rare is Effa?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Effa is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, peaked in the 1880s with 107 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Effa by the numbers
- Would fill 7 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(37 years, 1880–1944)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1944 | 7 | #3799 |
| 1942 | 5 | #4821 |
| 1927 | 5 | #5010 |
| 1926 | 7 | #3984 |
| 1925 | 7 | #4131 |
| 1924 | 10 | #3202 |
| 1922 | 5 | #5214 |
| 1921 | 6 | #4627 |
| 1920 | 6 | #4538 |
| 1919 | 6 | #4403 |
| 1918 | 6 | #4430 |
| 1917 | 9 | #3161 |
| 1916 | 7 | #3647 |
| 1915 | 6 | #3913 |
| 1914 | 8 | #2713 |
| 1908 | 10 | #1377 |
| 1903 | 5 | #1870 |
| 1902 | 5 | #1866 |
| 1900 | 6 | #1781 |
| 1899 | 6 | #1457 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Effa a boy's or girl's name?
When was Effa most popular?
How popular is the name Effa?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–1944