Eph
A masculine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "fruitful, productive".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Eph. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Eph today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Eph births was 1919 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Eph. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Eph. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1919
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1919 SSA rank
#4,360
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Eph: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Eph by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Eph during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Eph
The name Eph has its roots in the ancient Hebrew language, originating from the word "ephah," which means "darkness" or "obscurity." It first appeared in biblical texts and ancient Jewish scriptures, where it was often used as a nickname or abbreviated form of longer names like Ephraim or Ephrathah.
In the Old Testament, the name Eph is mentioned in the Book of Judges, where it refers to a region known as the "hill country of the Ephraimites." This suggests that the name was associated with a specific tribe or group of people in ancient Israel. Additionally, the name Ephraim, from which Eph is derived, is mentioned numerous times in the Bible and is the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Eph was Eph the Ephramite, a character mentioned in the Book of Judges. He is described as a judge who ruled over the Israelites for eight years, though little is known about his life and deeds.
In later centuries, the name Eph appeared sporadically throughout history, often used as a shortened version of longer names or as a nickname. One notable figure was Eph Coatsworth (1692-1765), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious treatises and sermons.
Another historical figure bearing the name Eph was Eph Everett (1781-1847), an American politician and lawyer who served as the 18th Governor of Massachusetts from 1835 to 1839. He played a significant role in the development of the state's public education system and advocated for the abolition of slavery.
In the literary world, Eph Whitten (1857-1935) was an American writer and poet who published several works, including "The Idyl of the Birch-Bark" and "The Heart of the Pine." He was known for his nature-inspired poetry and his celebration of the natural beauty of New England.
Finally, Eph Caton (1907-1990) was a British actor and singer who appeared in numerous films and stage productions throughout his career. He is perhaps best remembered for his roles in the classic British television series "The Avengers" and "Steptoe and Son."
While the name Eph is relatively uncommon today, it carries a rich historical legacy, with roots that stretch back to ancient times and biblical scriptures. Its association with darkness or obscurity has given way to a diverse array of individuals who have left their mark across various fields, from politics and religion to literature and the arts.
People
Eph + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Eph as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Eph: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Eph?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Eph going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about - US residents.
Is Eph a common name?
We classify Eph as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Eph most popular?
The single biggest year for Eph was 1919, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Eph is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Eph in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Eph a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Eph in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Eph still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Eph in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Eph can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Eph?
Want to know how many people share the name Eph? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.