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 ([email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]) 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?
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Morgan says
May 17, 2012 at 11:55 AMOur 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.
liz says
August 23, 2011 at 8:48 PMI love it, too. My husband has an old friend named Ephraim.
Meg says
August 23, 2011 at 11:25 AMI 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.
Nicolle says
August 23, 2011 at 3:23 PMI LOVE Ephraim! Like you Meg I fell in love with it like Gideon watching Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 😀
analyticreverter says
August 23, 2011 at 8:56 AMWhen 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.
Lady Gwyn says
August 22, 2011 at 7:18 PMI 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!
waltzingmorethanmatilda says
August 22, 2011 at 6:21 PMEphraim 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.
Julie says
August 22, 2011 at 3:48 PMI 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 ([email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]) 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.
Lola says
August 22, 2011 at 2:10 PMEphraim’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! 😀
Emmy Jo says
August 27, 2011 at 11:51 PMIS 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.
Sarah A says
August 28, 2011 at 1:50 PMI 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.
Susan says
November 30, 2011 at 12:08 AMI 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.
Nook of Names says
August 22, 2011 at 1:21 PMCertainly would make a change from all the Ethans! Same sort of ring.
Charlotte Vera says
August 22, 2011 at 10:22 AMIt’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?
Charlotte Vera says
August 22, 2011 at 11:28 AMThis article has reminded how long it’s been since I read _Johnny Tremain_. I should look into reading it again. . .
Jeannine says
August 22, 2011 at 9:57 AMThere’s also Ephraim Williams – founder of Williams College in Massachusetts. Go Ephs!
C in DC says
August 22, 2011 at 8:09 AMMy first thought was of Nora Ephron. Not quite the same, but probably shares the same origin.
rockingfetal says
August 22, 2011 at 8:06 AMThis and Abram were two names I wanted on the list for my first son, but I didn’t win. 😛
Christina Fonseca says
August 22, 2011 at 7:53 AMThank you for featuring Ephraim today. I like its quirkiness.