Ephraim

A familiar Hebrew name with steady appeal.

Boy's nameHebrewRising fast
#979 7in 2024

Meaning & Origin

The younger son of Joseph in the Bible, eponymous ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Ephraim is a boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, from the Hebrew Efraim meaning "fruitful" or "doubly fruitful," from the root para (to bear fruit). In the Bible, Ephraim was the younger son of Joseph in Egypt, whom Jacob blessed above his elder brother Manasseh.

Ephraim carries the agricultural abundance of its biblical blessing, with over 8,000 U.S. births on record. It has been used in both Jewish and Christian communities as a genuine Old Testament name with the gravitas of a patriarch and the natural nickname Eph or Frye.

Compare Ephraim with another name

Popularity Over Time

Ephraim climbed 118 spots in the last 20 years — from #1097 to #979.

06513019526018801900192019401960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Ephraim
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s1,091
2010s2,182
2000s1,323
1990s634
1980s600
1970s439
1960s258
1950s228
1940s177
1930s186
1920s348
1910s275
1900s53
1890s76
1880s127

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(141 years, 18802024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Ephraim
YearBirthsRank
2024229#979
2023223#986
2022201#1084
2021228#976
2020210#1004
2019221#970
2018223#938
2017260#848
2016254#871
2015231#925
2014229#928
2013210#951
2012199#1001
2011174#1074
2010181#1061
2009184#1039
2008179#1058
2007152#1162
2006150#1137
2005146#1123

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (18802024) · Methodology