Ephraim

Ephraim is a Hebrew biblical name associated with fruitfulness. In Genesis, Ephraim is Joseph’s younger son, and the name is also used for one of the tribes of Israel. That biblical account gives the name a specific family and religious history beyond the general positive idea of abundance.

Efraim, Efrem, and Spanish Efraín are related forms that show how the name traveled between languages. Pronunciation can vary substantially, including the number of syllables heard in English. Eph is a possible informal shortening. Families honoring an ancestor or choosing a biblical name may find it useful to decide which written and spoken tradition they want to preserve.