Jeff Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Jeff originates from Old French, derived from the Germanic elements meaning 'peaceful pledge'. It evolved through various forms including Geoffroi and Geoffrey before becoming popular as Jeff. The name conveys traits of friendliness and approachability, and it has no specific biblical relevance.
The name Jeff is most popular in Oregon, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Jeff has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Jeff' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 397th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 365th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 98th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 144th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 571st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1155th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2310th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7989th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 9204th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5047th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6670th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 17321st out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Jeff' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Jeff"
Pronunciation
/dʒɛf/
Origin
Old French
Etymology
The name Jeff is derived from the Old French name 'Geoffroi', which itself comes from the Germanic elements 'gisil', meaning 'pledge' or 'hostage', and 'frid', meaning 'peace'.
Meaning
peaceful pledge
Language Evolution
Geoffroi, Geoff, Jeffrey, Jeff
Historical Usage
The name became popular in the English-speaking world during the Middle Ages and saw a revival in the 20th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Jeffrey, Geoffrey, Jeffy
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Jeff is perceived as a friendly and approachable name, often associated with a casual and laid-back personality.
Famous People
Jeff Bezos, Jeff Bridges, Jeff Goldblum, Jeff Dunham
Explore More Jeff Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Jeff"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Jeff"
"Jeff" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 397th of 7545 | 3,578 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 365th of 6773 | 4,425 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 98th of 7552 | 70,715 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 144th of 10718 | 32,435 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 571st of 16616 | 4,700 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1155th of 24088 | 2,233 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2310th of 23106 | 711 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 7989th of 9107 | 10 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 9204th of 9204 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 5047th of 12526 | 114 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 6670th of 19264 | 107 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 17321st of 27321 | 27 |
Regional Popularity of "Jeff" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
83.05% 1176th/1416 |
- |
10.57% 250th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
24.00% 371st/1546 |
27.19% 423rd/1556 |
13.17% 310th/2353 |
19.84% 307th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
3.05% 68th/2227 |
5.14% 125th/2430 |
4.52% 129th/2853 |
2.31% 64th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
3.58% 105th/2937 |
6.06% 211th/3483 |
4.97% 175th/3518 |
2.79% 113th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
15.28% 563rd/3685 |
11.06% 495th/4475 |
12.42% 645th/5194 |
8.23% 520th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
34.94% 1601st/4582 |
16.62% 858th/5164 |
16.60% 1214th/7313 |
14.65% 1093rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
79.99% 3187th/3984 |
43.48% 1951st/4487 |
31.79% 2169th/6822 |
29.49% 1851st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Jeff" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Jeff"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Jeff" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.