Ephraim
From Hebrew אֶפְרַיִם (Efráyim, “Ephraim”, literally “fruitful”), via Latin.
Every Ephraim since 1880 — 8,236 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ephraim
Ephraim is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #988 in 2025 with 231 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 8,236 American babies have been named Ephraim. Its peak came in 2017, when 260 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ephraim stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ephraim year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 231 | #988 |
| 2024 | 232 | #976 |
| 2023 | 224 | #979 |
| 2022 | 202 | #1,080 |
| 2021 | 229 | #974 |
| 2020 | 210 | #1,005 |
| 2019 | 221 | #970 |
| 2018 | 223 | #939 |
| 2017 | 260 | #848 |
| 2016 | 254 | #871 |
| 2015 | 231 | #925 |
| 2014 | 229 | #929 |
| 2013 | 210 | #951 |
| 2012 | 199 | #1,002 |
| 2011 | 174 | #1,074 |
| 2010 | 181 | #1,061 |
| 2009 | 184 | #1,039 |
| 2008 | 179 | #1,058 |
| 2007 | 152 | #1,163 |
| 2006 | 151 | #1,134 |
| 2005 | 147 | #1,121 |
| 2004 | 143 | #1,105 |
| 2003 | 115 | #1,256 |
| 2002 | 88 | #1,451 |
| 2001 | 72 | #1,637 |
| 2000 | 94 | #1,354 |
| 1995 | 57 | #1,607 |
| 1990 | 58 | #1,491 |
| 1985 | 61 | #1,219 |
| 1980 | 52 | #1,299 |
| 1975 | 41 | #1,363 |
| 1970 | 39 | #1,340 |
| 1965 | 27 | #1,494 |
| 1960 | 34 | #1,369 |
| 1955 | 24 | #1,577 |
| 1950 | 18 | #1,762 |
| 1945 | 15 | #1,803 |
| 1940 | 15 | #1,831 |
| 1935 | 15 | #1,859 |
| 1930 | 29 | #1,346 |
| 1925 | 36 | #1,188 |
| 1920 | 36 | #1,213 |
| 1915 | 40 | #1,001 |
| 1910 | 6 | #1,466 |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | 8 | #988 |
| 1895 | 10 | #711 |
| 1890 | 11 | #611 |
| 1885 | 11 | #585 |
| 1880 | 18 | #407 |
Famous people named Ephraim
- Ephraim Katzir Politician · 1916–2009
- Ephraim Kishon Writer · 1924–2005
- Ephraim Chambers Writer · 1680–1740
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ephraim mean?
From Hebrew אֶפְרַיִם (Efráyim, “Ephraim”, literally “fruitful”), via Latin.
How popular is the name Ephraim in 2025?
Ephraim ranked #988 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 231 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ephraim?
8,236 babies have been named Ephraim in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ephraim most popular?
Ephraim peaked in 2017, when 260 newborns received the name.
Is Ephraim a boy or girl name?
Ephraim is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Ephraim rising or falling?
Ephraim has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Ephraim?
Well-known people named Ephraim include Ephraim Katzir (politician), Ephraim Kishon (writer), Ephraim Chambers (writer).