Ephraim is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. From the Hebrew name ʾEfrayim, it means "fruitful," deriving from the root פר separated and combined with the suffix ־ָיִם av iting plural abundrant suffix, connoting double fertility. In the Old Testament, Ephraim is a son of Joseph and Asenath, and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel (according to Genesis 41:50-52). Joseph named him Ephraim because God had made him fruitful in the land of his affliction. Biblical and Historical Significance Ephraim was born in Egypt before the Hebrew sojourn there. Later, Jacob adopted Ephraim and his brother Manasseh as his own sons, blessing Ephraim before Manasseh and decreeing that Ephraim's descendants would become a great multitude (Genesis 48). The Tribe of Ephraim became one of the leading tribes of the northern Kingdom of Israel. Noteworthy descendants include Joshua, son of Nun, who led the Israelites into Canaan. The name also appears in the Bible as a place name, referring to a district in the hill country (so-called mount: Ephrone as in 2 Chronicles 13). Religious Bearers Ephraim was borne by two early saints honored in Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholic calendars. Ephraim the Syrian (also Ephrem) was a 4th-century theologian and poet celebrated for his hymns and extof prayerus dialogue and profound spiritualityst, and was declared a Doctor of the Church. Ephraim of Antioch served as Patriarch of Antioch in the 6th century, defending Orthodox Christiology. Their influence ensures the name's continued use in Christianity in variants such as Ephrem and Efrem in many languages. Meaning: fruitful Origin: Hebrew Related Names: 'Efrayim (original Hebrew), Efraim (varied use)