Jeffrey
Peaked at #9 nationally in 1966, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1885, Jeffrey has been recorded <1% of the time for girls and >99% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Jeffrey is an English variant of Geoffrey, traced to the Germanic Gaufrid, likely combining gawi ("territory" or "district") with frid ("peace"), though some scholars connect the first element to a word for "pledge" instead. The Normans carried forms of the name into England after 1066, and Jeffrey became the standard American spelling by the 20th century.
Notable people & culture
Actor Jeff Bridges and Jeffrey Wright have both earned critical acclaim across decades of film work, and actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan is known for television roles including AMC's The Walking Dead. The name was widely used across the mid-to-late 20th century United States. Jeff remains its most common short form.
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Jeffrey — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#922
in 1970
Last ranked
#18026
in 2012
Years tracked
65
1941–2012
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1941, Jeffrey reached its peak popularity for girls in 1970, ranking #922 nationally with 140 babies given the name that year.
Jeffrey hasn't appeared among the national top ranks for girls since 2012, when it stood at #18026.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | #18,026 | 5 |
| 2004 | #8,937 | 12 |
| 2003 | #16,860 | 5 |
| 2002 | #11,561 | 8 |
| 2001 | #14,288 | 6 |
| 2000 | #12,353 | 7 |
| 1999 | #9,091 | 10 |
| 1998 | #13,123 | 6 |
Jeffrey — Boys (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#9
in 1966
Current rank
#520
in 2024
Years tracked
116
1885–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1885, Jeffrey reached its peak popularity for boys in 1966, ranking #9 nationally with 30,199 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #267 (2014) to #520 (2024) — a 49% drop.
As of 2024, Jeffrey ranks #520 nationally for boys, with 587 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #520 | 587 |
| 2023 | #485 | 621 |
| 2022 | #452 | 679 |
| 2021 | #427 | 727 |
| 2020 | #386 | 794 |
| 2019 | #364 | 881 |
| 2018 | #329 | 1,015 |
| 2017 | #324 | 1,056 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — boys' names only.
Common Questions
When was Jeffrey most popular?
Jeffrey was most popular in 1966, when it ranked #9 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Jeffrey becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently falling, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Jeffrey?
At least 982,547 babies have been recorded with the name Jeffrey in the US since 1885, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Jeffrey? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.