Find out how popular the first name Effie has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Effie by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Effie is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 90 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Effie.

The history of the first name Effie

The name Effie is a diminutive form of the Greek name Euphemia, which means "well-spoken" or "praise." It has its roots in the ancient Greek language and culture, dating back to the Byzantine era. The name Euphemia was derived from the Greek words "eu" meaning "well" and "pheme" meaning "speech" or "utterance."

Effie gained popularity as a given name during the Victorian era in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries. It was often used as a nickname or diminutive form of longer names like Euphemia or Ephemia. The name had a certain charm and whimsical quality that appealed to the sensibilities of the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Effie can be found in the novel "The Mill on the Floss" by George Eliot, published in 1860. In the book, Effie is the nickname of the character Euphemia Turbet.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Effie. One of the earliest was Effie Gray (1828-1897), a Scottish artist who was married to the famous art critic John Ruskin. Their turbulent marriage and eventual annulment due to non-consummation became a subject of public scandal in Victorian England.

Another prominent Effie was Effie Millais (1837-1898), the wife of the English painter John Everett Millais. She was a model and muse for her husband's works, including the iconic painting "Ophelia."

In the realm of literature, Effie Belle Caldwell (1864-1933) was an American writer and suffragette who published several novels and plays under the pen name of Effie W. Merriman.

The name also found its way into the world of entertainment. Effie Marie Fateaux (1905-1988), better known as Effie Fateaux, was an American vaudeville performer and actress who appeared in several films during the 1920s and 1930s.

Lastly, Effie Marquita Millais (1884-1964) was an English artist and writer, known for her memoir "The Life and Letters of John Everett Millais," which provided insights into the life of her father, the renowned Pre-Raphaelite painter.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Effie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Effie, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!