Given name & surname
Ephrem
“fruitful”·“one who is fertile; productive”
Ephrem is a variant of Ephraim. Interpretations include “fruitful” and “one who is fertile; productive” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Ephrem is a variant of Ephraim. Interpretations include “fruitful” and “one who is fertile; productive” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Ephrem is a variant of Ephraim. An origin associated with Ephraim is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1961. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Ephrem is a variant of Ephraim. The history of Ephraim gives this family its wider story. Ephraim appears in biblical tradition, giving it a longstanding religious and cultural context.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Ephrem through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 250
- 250 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 17 babies
- 2025
- 13
- #6,568 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +57%
- Rising fast
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 13 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 6,568 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 56.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 686 as a first name in 2020; 556 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Ephrem’s family of names
Ephrem has a related form in Ephraim. In English usage, Ephrem has a conventional equivalent in the German form Ephraim. In English usage, Ephrem has a conventional equivalent in the Polish form Efrem.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Ephrem, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Eithan
“firmness” · “long-lived”
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“God is gracious”
80% boys · 20% girls
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“encampment”
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“my father is help” · “father of help”
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Nethaniah
“Yah has given”
>99% boys
Artem
“safe and sound”
>99% boys
Emorett
>99% boys
Ekaksh
>99% boys