Effa

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Effa

Pronounced EF-uh /ˈɛf.ə/High

Meaning: Effa is a genuine but rare old English girl's name, most plausibly a pet form of Euphemia (Greek, 'well-spoken' or 'of good repute') or a variant of Effie. Its exact route is uncertain, which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: Effa is a rare old girl's name, likely short for Euphemia, 'well-spoken.' It dates to the late eighteen-hundreds in the United States (said EF-uh).

💕 Browse more names

Origin LowEnglish, Greek

MeaningEffa is a genuine but rare old English girl's name, most plausibly a pet form of Euphemia (Greek, 'well-spoken' or 'of good repute') or a variant of Effie. Its exact route is uncertain, which we note.

U.S. rank (1944)#3799 ↗ Rising

1944 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1889

Total births (all-time)≈ 312

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Effa is a genuine but uncommon nineteenth-century American girl's name, most likely a short form of Euphemia (Greek for 'well-spoken') in the same family as Effie. It appears in United States birth records from the eighteen-eighties and faded after the mid twentieth century. Its exact route is uncertain, which we note.

It was never common, given to only a couple dozen girls a year at its high in the late eighteen-eighties, so an Effa from that era was born well over a century ago. It reads as a vintage curiosity, remembered today chiefly through Effa Manley.

Did you know? The most famous Effa, Effa Manley, ran the Newark Eagles baseball club and became the first woman elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Overall data confidence 40%

References - Effa — Rare old name, likely short for Euphemia; bearer Effa Manley (Baseball Hall of Fame)

Variations

EffieEuphemiaEppie

Nicknames

EffEffie

Famous Bearers

★Effa Manley (1897-1981)
co-owner and business manager of the Newark Eagles in the Negro leagues and the first woman elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame

If you like Effa…

Effie— the like pet form from the same root

Euphemia— the likely parent name

Etta— a similar short vintage girl's name

Edna— another turn-of-the-century girl's name

Explore names like Effa

By themerare vintage heritage short

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Effa mean?

It is a rare old name, most likely a short form of Euphemia, 'well-spoken'; the route is uncertain.

How do you pronounce Effa?

It's said EF-uh /ˈɛf.ə/ - two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Effa a boy or girl name?

Effa is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Effa?

It has always been rare, given to only a couple dozen girls a year at its peak in the late eighteen-eighties.