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Joffre
How to Pronounce Joffre
Pronounced ZHOF-ruh /ΛΚΙf.rΙ/Medium
Meaning: Joffre is a French surname adopted as a first name in honor of Marshal Joseph Joffre, the French commander celebrated for the 1914 Battle of the Marne. Its American span, beginning in 1914, marks it as a First World War namesake.Low
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Joffre is a French surname pressed into service as a given name to honor Joseph Joffre, the French marshal hailed as the 'Victor of the Marne' in 1914. American parents caught up in Allied enthusiasm bestowed it during and just after the war β its span begins in 1914, the year Joffre became a household name.
Almost purely a wartime tribute name, it peaked around 1917 and quickly faded once the war passed from memory. A man named Joffre would be of a great-grandparent generation, and the name is a small, dated monument to a moment of First World War fervor rather than a lasting tradition.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
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Joffre Cross (unknown)American men named Joffre after Marshal Joffre appear in early-1900s records; a specific well-documented bearer needs verification.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Joffre mean?
Joffre is a French surname given in honor of the First World War Marshal Joseph Joffre.
How do you pronounce Joffre?
It's said ZHOF-ruh /ΛΚΙf.rΙ/ β two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Joffre a boy or girl name?
Joffre is used as a boy's name.
How popular is Joffre?
Joffre has always been very rare in the U.S., a First World War namesake honoring Marshal Joffre.