Ephraim
Boy name · #988 in 2025 · Uniqueness 60/100
Ephraim ranks #988 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 231 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #925, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,792 boys born in 2025 was named Ephraim.
Babies named Ephraim per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Ephraim first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 18 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 260 boys were named Ephraim — good for #848 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ephraim against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ephraim in class?
Ephraim scores 60 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Ephraim is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ephraim is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Ephraims were NY (26), PA (16), CA (15), FL (12), UT (12). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Ephraim
Statistically, parents drawn to Ephraim tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Efraim, Chaim, Naim, Karim, and Hashim.
EfraimChaimNaimKarimHashimAvrahamEdisonEliezer
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ephraim | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 231 | #988 |
| 2024 | 232 | #976 |
| 2023 | 224 | #977 |
| 2022 | 202 | #1078 |
| 2021 | 229 | #973 |
| 2020 | 210 | #1005 |
| 2019 | 221 | #968 |
| 2018 | 223 | #938 |
| 2017 | 260 | #848 |
| 2016 | 254 | #871 |
| 2015 | 231 | #925 |
| 2014 | 229 | #929 |
| 2013 | 210 | #948 |
| 2012 | 199 | #1001 |
| 2011 | 174 | #1073 |
| 2010 | 181 | #1059 |
| 2009 | 184 | #1039 |
| 2008 | 179 | #1058 |
| 2007 | 152 | #1162 |
| 2006 | 151 | #1132 |
| 2005 | 147 | #1116 |
| 2004 | 143 | #1101 |
| 2003 | 115 | #1253 |
| 2002 | 88 | #1447 |
| 2001 | 72 | #1629 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ephraim a popular boy name?
Ephraim ranked #988 among boys in 2025 with 231 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #925.
When was the name Ephraim most popular?
Ephraim peaked in 2017, when 260 American boys received the name (ranked #848 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ephraim?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,792 newborn American boys was named Ephraim. It scores 60/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.