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Jeff

jef /dʒɛf/

At a glance

In short
Jeff is a cheerful, down-to-earth name with roots in medieval England, where it began as a friendly shorthand for Geoffrey (itself born of Old German elements meaning “peace” and “pledge”).
U.S. rank 2025
#3,314 of boy names (outside the top 1,000)
Babies in 2025
35 (<0.01% of boys)
Trend
Slipping #2,806 in 2020 #3,314 in 2025
Peak
#44 in 1962
First recorded
1880

Meaning of Jeff

Jeff is a cheerful, down-to-earth name with roots in medieval England, where it began as a friendly shorthand for Geoffrey (itself born of Old German elements meaning “peace” and “pledge”). Over the decades, Jeff has become synonymous with genuine warmth and quiet confidence—think of a steady anchor in a churning sea, always ready with a sunny smile. Once a top choice through the mid-20th century, it still finds its way onto baby lists today (ranked 881 in 2024), proving that classics never truly fade. From beloved actors like Jeff Bridges to pioneering entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos, the name carries an inspiring legacy without ever feeling flashy. Short, sweet and to the point—Jeff invites the kind of easy camaraderie that turns strangers into friends.

How to pronounce Jeff

English

Popularity of Jeff in the U.S.

Jeff was the #3,314 boy name in the U.S. in 2025, with 35 babies. It peaked at #44 in 1962.

Bar and line chart: Jeff in the U.S., 1880–2025. Bars: boys given the name each year, most 9,463 in 1961 and 35 in 2025. Line: rank among boy names, peak #44 in 1962, #3,314 in 2025.
  • Boys named Jeff (left scale)
  • Rank among U.S. boy names (right scale, #1 at the top)
By year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA. Download: PNG · SVG
Year-by-year table, 1880⁠–⁠2025 146 rows
YearBabiesRankvs previous year
2025353,314▼ 399
2024432,915▲ 432
2023353,347▼ 554
2022462,793▼ 383
2021562,410▲ 396
2020432,806▼ 315
2019532,491▼ 390
2018672,101▲ 139
2017592,240▲ 38
2016582,278▼ 277
2015722,001▼ 425
20141001,576▲ 218
2013801,794▲ 69
2012781,863▼ 197
2011901,666▼ 210
20101131,456▼ 109
20091281,347▼ 120
20081421,227▼ 107
20071611,120▲ 70
20061411,190▲ 26
20051301,216▼ 205
20041631,011▲ 1
20031561,012▼ 39
2002162973▼ 61
2001171912▲ 18
2000164930▼ 25
1999165905▲ 103
19981351,008▼ 32
1997134976▼ 97
1996156879▼ 1
1995154878▼ 160
1994213718▼ 4
1993209714▼ 19
1992221695▼ 53
1991254642–
1990249642▼ 61
1989283581▼ 69
1988324512▲ 2
1987306514▼ 48
1986346466▼ 25
1985373441▼ 1
1984365440▼ 27
1983390413▼ 18
1982424395▼ 7
1981434388▼ 49
1980542339▼ 10
1979552329▼ 35
1978639294▼ 17
1977699277▼ 15
1976745262▼ 28
1975882234▼ 17
1974974217▼ 25
19731,182192▼ 25
19721,540167▼ 27
19712,155140▼ 24
19702,881116▼ 10
19692,973106▼ 16
19683,27990▼ 2
19673,59188▼ 16
19664,38772▼ 10
19655,40662▼ 10
19646,93352▼ 4
19638,10548▼ 4
19629,42444▲ 5
19619,46349–
19608,51149▲ 3
19597,73052▲ 16
19585,80868▲ 28
19574,09296▲ 49
19562,220145▲ 37
19551,482182▲ 39
1954976221▲ 10
1953847231▲ 36
1952659267▲ 19
1951567286▲ 5
1950539291▼ 46
1949696245▼ 33
1948888212▼ 13
19471,007199▲ 20
1946766219▲ 30
1945538249▲ 24
1944470273▲ 7
1943480280▲ 14
1942424294▲ 8
1941361302▲ 38
1940279340▲ 106
1939164446▼ 30
1938187416▲ 38
1937153454▲ 46
1936128500▼ 18
1935137482▲ 48
1934122530▼ 63
1933143467▼ 16
1932157451▲ 3
1931154454▼ 13
1930177441▲ 9
1929174450▲ 2
1928177452▼ 12
1927192440▲ 36
1926159476▼ 39
1925189437▲ 10
1924186447▼ 28
1923207419▼ 2
1922206417▲ 63
1921164480▼ 72
1920207408▲ 25
1919184433▼ 18
1918198415▲ 6
1917180421▼ 15
1916186406▼ 8
1915183398▼ 30
1914165368▼ 23
1913143345▼ 24
1912134321▼ 13
191176308▼ 41
191083267▲ 1
190968268▼ 6
190865262▼ 20
190773242▲ 16
190659258▼ 10
190562248▼ 29
190471219▲ 54
190346273▲ 1
190247274▼ 19
190145255▼ 11
190069244▼ 4
189948240▼ 13
189860227▼ 9
189759218▲ 12
189662230▼ 17
189565213▼ 4
189464209▼ 43
189387166▲ 55
189262221▼ 55
189177166▲ 10
189077176▲ 13
188970189▼ 27
188893162▲ 18
188770180▲ 30
188663210▼ 10
188563200▼ 15
188474185▲ 55
188344240▼ 74
188281166▲ 21
188161187▲ 1
188066188–

Notable people named Jeff

  • Jeff Bezos is an American businessman best known as the founder of Amazon.
  • Jeff Merkley — Jeffrey Merkley is an American Democratic politician who has served as a United States senator from Oregon since 2009.
  • Jeff Buckley — Jeffrey Scott Buckley was an American musician best known for his 1994 album Grace.
  • Jeff Lemire is a Canadian comic book writer and artist best known for Essex County, Sweet Tooth, and Black Hammer.
  • Geoffrey Arnold Beck, known as Jeff Beck, was an influential English guitarist who rose to fame with the Yardbirds and became known for his innovative instrumental music.
More people named Jeff 8 more
  • Jeff Dunham — Jeffrey Dunham is an American ventriloquist, comedian and actor known for his popular comedy specials and record-breaking live tours.
  • Jeff Daniels is an American actor and musician known for his versatile roles in comedy and drama and two Emmy Awards.
  • Jeff Bridges — Jeffrey Bridges is an American actor and singer with a passion for art, photography, and storytelling.
  • Jeff Goldblum is an American actor and musician best known for starring in Jurassic Park and Independence Day.
  • Jeff Davis was an American politician who served as Arkansas governor and U.S. senator, known for his divisive populism.
  • Jeff Mathews — Jeffrey Kyle Mathews is a former professional football quarterback who set records at Cornell before playing four seasons in the Canadian Football League.
  • Jeff Kinney is an American author and illustrator best known for Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the children's website Poptropica.
  • Jeff Feagles — Jeffrey Feagles is a former NFL punter who played for 22 seasons and retired with the New York Giants in 2010.