I LOVE, Love, love Ephraim. It is probably one of my favorite boy names ever.
I’ve been in love with it since I was a little girl. There is an Ephraim on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. All seven brothers have Biblical names in alphabetical order- Adam, Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel, Ephraim, Frankincense, and Gideon. I was obsessed with that movie when I was younger.
If I am ever lucky enough to have another son he’ll have a pretty good chance of being a little Ephraim.
When our fourth was born, my husband looked at him and said “I think he’s an Ephraim.” But a few hours later, he wasn’t so sure, and three days later, we were still undecided. Then I mentioned a great-great-grandfather of mine named Rasmus, and that’s what we chose. In retrospect, as much as I like the name Ephraim, I don’t think I would have been too happy to discover there was a Twilight character with the same name. Ephram is quite nice, too.
I like Ephraim. It isn’t a particular favorite-I’d rather use Eleazer as an obscure Bible name that starts with E, but I do like it. The story about the Zimbalists reminds me-Efrem, Jr. has a daughter named Stephanie-same as me, and since it’s my birthday, I’d to think Abby did this as a tie in for me!
I have a friend with a Ephraim. He’s a third grader, so he was born in the middle of Everwood’s run. I’m surprised, his brother’s names (Elij@h, Eth@n and Ezeki@l) are pretty popular, so I had assumed Ephraim was rising in popularity as well.
I like Ephraim it’s a nice change of pace. I like Biblical names — I just find it funny that so many parents keep recycling the same few, when there are so many with admirable meanings.
Ephraim’s awesome! I agree with Nook, Ephraim reminds me of Ethan, quite a bit, only I like Ephraim better. Actually, I prefer the spare Efrem best, maybe because Zimbalist Sr. Was a frequent play around my house growing up.
Easily pronounced, not so hard to spell (either way) and absolutely stands out in a crowd, Ephraim rocks! 😀
IS it easily pronounced? I want to say EE-fray-im, but none of the name websites agree with me. Behind The Name lists four different pronunciations: EE-free-im, EE-fr?m, E-free-im, and E-fr?m.
I actually love the name. I’ve been trying to convince my husband of it ever since he nixed the alliterative Gideon G—— from our list. But the pronunciation difficulty does give me pause.
I agree Emmy Jo, I don’t think it’s so easily pronounced. I always thought it was E-fraim (fraim rhyming with Chaim), but after this post I guess it’s more like EE-fraim. Ephraim is a great name, but it’s kind of like Georgiana for me: too many different ways to pronounce it.
I agree, Emmy Jo. My daughter (age 13) has a classmate named Ephraim, and it is pronounced ef-FRY-em. Others pronounce it EF-rem. It appears from my limited exposure to this name, that the first pronunciation is the Hebrew pronunciation and the second is the old-fashioned Protestant pronunciation.
It’s funny that you say it’s tough to imagine this name on a girl, since the only person I’ve ever met with a version of this name was female. She was, if I recall correctly, from French West Africa, and pronounced her name “ee-fray-eem” (French r). The name isn’t so unlike Miriam/Miryam, so is it really hard to see a little girl Ephraim, nicknamed Effie?
Our first child’s name is Ephraim. We pronounce it “eF-rum”. I always tell people F as in the letter and rum like the liquor.
I love it, too. My husband has an old friend named Ephraim.
I LOVE, Love, love Ephraim. It is probably one of my favorite boy names ever.
I’ve been in love with it since I was a little girl. There is an Ephraim on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. All seven brothers have Biblical names in alphabetical order- Adam, Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel, Ephraim, Frankincense, and Gideon. I was obsessed with that movie when I was younger.
If I am ever lucky enough to have another son he’ll have a pretty good chance of being a little Ephraim.
I LOVE Ephraim! Like you Meg I fell in love with it like Gideon watching Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 😀
When our fourth was born, my husband looked at him and said “I think he’s an Ephraim.” But a few hours later, he wasn’t so sure, and three days later, we were still undecided. Then I mentioned a great-great-grandfather of mine named Rasmus, and that’s what we chose. In retrospect, as much as I like the name Ephraim, I don’t think I would have been too happy to discover there was a Twilight character with the same name. Ephram is quite nice, too.
I like Ephraim. It isn’t a particular favorite-I’d rather use Eleazer as an obscure Bible name that starts with E, but I do like it. The story about the Zimbalists reminds me-Efrem, Jr. has a daughter named Stephanie-same as me, and since it’s my birthday, I’d to think Abby did this as a tie in for me!
Ephraim sounds like the kind of name that already IS popular or at least rapidly rising.
As you said, there’s so many parents picking “soundalike” names that many rare names sort of already sound popular.
I have a friend with a Ephraim. He’s a third grader, so he was born in the middle of Everwood’s run. I’m surprised, his brother’s names (Elij@h, Eth@n and Ezeki@l) are pretty popular, so I had assumed Ephraim was rising in popularity as well.
I like Ephraim it’s a nice change of pace. I like Biblical names — I just find it funny that so many parents keep recycling the same few, when there are so many with admirable meanings.
Ephraim’s awesome! I agree with Nook, Ephraim reminds me of Ethan, quite a bit, only I like Ephraim better. Actually, I prefer the spare Efrem best, maybe because Zimbalist Sr. Was a frequent play around my house growing up.
Easily pronounced, not so hard to spell (either way) and absolutely stands out in a crowd, Ephraim rocks! 😀
IS it easily pronounced? I want to say EE-fray-im, but none of the name websites agree with me. Behind The Name lists four different pronunciations: EE-free-im, EE-fr?m, E-free-im, and E-fr?m.
I actually love the name. I’ve been trying to convince my husband of it ever since he nixed the alliterative Gideon G—— from our list. But the pronunciation difficulty does give me pause.
I agree Emmy Jo, I don’t think it’s so easily pronounced. I always thought it was E-fraim (fraim rhyming with Chaim), but after this post I guess it’s more like EE-fraim. Ephraim is a great name, but it’s kind of like Georgiana for me: too many different ways to pronounce it.
I agree, Emmy Jo. My daughter (age 13) has a classmate named Ephraim, and it is pronounced ef-FRY-em. Others pronounce it EF-rem. It appears from my limited exposure to this name, that the first pronunciation is the Hebrew pronunciation and the second is the old-fashioned Protestant pronunciation.
Certainly would make a change from all the Ethans! Same sort of ring.
It’s funny that you say it’s tough to imagine this name on a girl, since the only person I’ve ever met with a version of this name was female. She was, if I recall correctly, from French West Africa, and pronounced her name “ee-fray-eem” (French r). The name isn’t so unlike Miriam/Miryam, so is it really hard to see a little girl Ephraim, nicknamed Effie?
This article has reminded how long it’s been since I read _Johnny Tremain_. I should look into reading it again. . .
There’s also Ephraim Williams – founder of Williams College in Massachusetts. Go Ephs!
My first thought was of Nora Ephron. Not quite the same, but probably shares the same origin.
This and Abram were two names I wanted on the list for my first son, but I didn’t win. 😛
Thank you for featuring Ephraim today. I like its quirkiness.