Effie is a name of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word "efthios" which means "graceful". It is a variant of the name Euphemia, which also has Greek origins and translates to "well-spoken" or "good speech".
The name Effie gained popularity in the 19th century, likely due to its use in Charles Dickens' novel "Bleak House", where one of the main characters is named Esther Summerson. However, it is not widely known how much this literary influence contributed to the name's rise in popularity.
In terms of history, there are a few notable figures with the name Effie. One of them is Effie Gray, who was an artist and the first wife of pre-Raphaelite painter John Ruskin. She was also the mother of Sir John Everett Millais, another prominent pre-Raphaelite painter.
Overall, Effie is a unique and elegant name with a rich history that dates back to ancient Greece. Its meaning, "graceful", adds to its appeal as it suggests refinement and beauty. Despite its Greek origins, Effie has been adopted by various cultures around the world and can be found in many different countries today.
Statistics on the given name Effie in the United States:
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the number of babies named Effie varied year by year. The highest number of births was recorded in 1916 with 11 occurrences. This trend continued into the 1920s with a peak of 11 births in 1923 and 10 births in both 1922 and 1917.
The popularity of the name Effie began to decline after the 1920s, with only 5 births recorded each year from 1936 to 1942. There was a slight increase in 1973 with 7 births.
Overall, between 1883 and 1973, there were a total of 241 babies named Effie born in the United States.