Given name · also Late Greek
Euphemia
“one who speaks well”
Euphemia is used as a given name. One Greek interpretation is “one who speaks well.”
Original GreekΕυφημία
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Greek interpretation is “one who speaks well.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Greek.
How it developed
Its Late Greek formation brings together eu (“well, good”) and phémi (“I speak”).
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Euphemia through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 771
- 0 boys · 771 girls
- Most popular year
- 1915
- 26 babies
- 2025
- 19
- #6,186 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +67%
- Rising fast
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 19 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 6,186 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 66.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 26 in 1915. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 466 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Euphemia’s family of names
Euphemia has an affectionate form in Effie. Euphemia has a later derivative in Eufemia. Euphemia has a related form in Eppie.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Euphemia has relatives in 16 languages. Lines run from its Ancient Greek roots to each of them.
Ancient Greekwhere Euphemia comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 24
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 16
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Euphemia
- Euphemia6th-century Byzantine empress500–523
- Euphemia HaynesAmerican mathematician (1890–1980)
- Euphemia of SwedenDuchess consort of Mecklenburg1317–1370
- Euphemia de RossScottish royal consort1333–1386
- Euphemia of HungaryPeerage person ID=1141051045–1111
- Euphemia of SicilyRegent of Sicily1330–1359
- Euphemia of Greater PolandPolish princess (1230-?)
- Euphemia I, Countess of RossScottish countess1345–1398
- Euphemia of RacibórzPolish princess1299–1359
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Euphemia, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Eugenia
“a wellborn woman” · “a wellborn man”
>99% girls
Eulalia
“well-spoken”
>99% girls
Obelia
“one who acts as a pillar of strength”
>99% girls
Eudora
“a good gift”
>99% girls
Zenobia
Zenobia is a feminine given name from Latin, ultimately from Arabic. It is used in English, Italian, Polish, and Occitan.
>99% girls
Zela
“one who is blessed with happiness”
>99% girls
Teodora
“gift of God”
>99% girls
Iona
“woman from the island”
1% boys · 99% girls