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Effie

♀ Girl

Pronounced EHF-ee /ˈɛf.i/Medium

Meaning: well-spoken, of good repute (diminutive of Euphemia)Medium

In 30 seconds: Effie is a Greek name, a pet form of Euphemia meaning 'well-spoken, of good repute.'

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Origin MediumGreek

Meaningwell-spoken, of good repute (diminutive of Euphemia)

U.S. rank (2025)#2245 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births82 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1919

Total births (all-time)≈ 44,253

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

Effie began as a short form of the Greek Euphemia, which means 'well-spoken' or 'of good repute.' It travels widely under that same root, surfacing as Eppie, Femie, and Phemie, and as the Scottish Gaelic Oighrig. The diminutive long ago took on a life of its own as a given name.

Two American performers carried it: stage and silent-film actress Effie Shannon, and jazz and blues singer Effie Smith. The clipped, cheerful sound has kept it feeling vintage but not stuffy.

Did you know? Effie comes from Greek euphemos (eu 'good' + pheme 'speech'), so it carries the bright idea of being well-spoken or of good omen.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Effie — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSVEtymology — Effie — meaning/etymology

Variations

EppieFemiePhemieOighrigEuphemia

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Effie Shannon (1867-1954)
American stage and silent-film actress
★Effie Smith (1914-1977)
American jazz/blues singer and comedian

If you like Effie…

Lexie— echoes that soft -ie sound

Dottie— shares the -ie ending

Georgie— shares the -ie ending

Maisie— echoes that soft -ie sound

Nellie— shares the -ie ending

Explore names like Effie

By themeenglish scottish

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Effie mean?

Effie is a short form of Euphemia meaning 'well-spoken' or 'of good repute,' from Greek tradition.

How do you pronounce Effie?

It's commonly said EHF-ee /ˈɛf.i/.

Is Effie a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Effie is used as a girl name.

How popular is Effie?

In 2024, Effie ranked #2507 in the U.S. for girls, with 71 births recorded.