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Jeffrey

♂ Boy

Pronounced JEF-ree /ˈdʒɛf.ri/High

Meaning: Variant spelling of Geoffrey, from Old French Geoffroi, itself from Old German composed of gawia ('territory') or gisil ('pledge') and frid ('peace'), meaning 'territory peace' or 'pledge of peace'; Jeffrey is the American English spellingHigh

In 30 seconds: Jeffrey is the American spelling of the Old German classic Geoffrey, meaning 'pledge of peace.' A reliable mid-century choice with the nickname Jeff, it remains a recognizable, no-frills classic.
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Origin HighOld German, English
MeaningVariant spelling of Geoffrey, from Old French Geoffroi, itself from Old German composed of gawia ('territory') or gisil ('pledge') and frid ('peace'), meaning 'territory peace' or 'pledge of peace'; Jeffrey is the American English spelling
U.S. rank (2025)#552 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births544 boys (0.03% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1962
Total births (all-time)≈ 979,593

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196218852025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Jeffrey is the American spelling of Geoffrey/Jeffery, from Old French Geoffroi, derived from Old German elements. The first element may be gawia (territory) or gisil (pledge, hostage), and the second is frid (peace), yielding 'pledge of peace' as the most common meaning. The name came to England with the Normans and was widespread throughout medieval Europe.

Jeffrey was one of the top boys' names in the United States from the 1940s through the 1980s, peaking in the top 10 in the 1960s and 1970s. It has been declining since but remains in the top 300. It carries a clean, mid-century American professional image and is often chosen as a family name honoring previous generations. The nickname Jeff has near-universal recognition.

Did you know? Geoffrey of Monmouth's 12th-century Historia Regum Britanniae, written by a Geoffrey, is the primary source for the legend of King Arthur — making a Geoffrey arguably the father of the most enduring myth in English literature.
Overall data confidence 89%
Behind the Name — Jeffrey — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

GeoffreyJefferyJeffry

Nicknames

JeffJef

Famous Bearers

  • ★Jeff Bezos (1964–present)
    American entrepreneur, founder of Amazon, and one of the wealthiest people in history.

If you like Jeffrey…

Gregory— shares the mid-century American peak, the two-syllable flow, and the same solid classic status
Geoffrey— the British spelling of the identical name with the same Germanic roots
Timothy— three-syllable biblical name from the same mid-20th-century American peak generation
Bradley— two-syllable Anglo-Norman surname-name from the same mid-century naming wave

Frequently Asked

What does the name Jeffrey mean?

Jeffrey is an American spelling of Geoffrey, from Old German meaning 'pledge of peace' (gisil + frid). It came to England with the Normans.

How do you pronounce Jeffrey?

It is said JEF-ree — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Jeffrey a boy or girl name?

Jeffrey is used almost exclusively as a boys' name.

How popular is Jeffrey?

Jeffrey peaked in the U.S. top 10 in the 1960s–70s and now ranks in the top 300. It is a solid mid-century classic with enduring familiarity.