Geoffrey
Geoffrey is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
God's peace or pledge of peace.
Origin and history
Geoffrey is a classic masculine name brought to England by the Normans, derived from Germanic elements meaning 'divine peace' or 'pledge of peace'. It was widely used throughout the Middle Ages and established a firm presence in English-speaking countries. In the United States, it peaked in popularity during the mid-to-late 20th century before gradually giving way to the variant spelling Jeffrey.
Popularity in the United States
54,394 babies in the United States have been named Geoffrey since 1880. It ranks #477 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1669.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13.2 %)
- NY (10.6 %)
- PA (6 %)
- OH (5.9 %)
- IL (5.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 5 |
| 1900-1910 | 18 |
| 1910-1920 | 138 |
| 1920-1930 | 200 |
| 1930-1940 | 432 |
| 1940-1950 | 3,714 |
| 1950-1960 | 6,899 |
| 1960-1970 | 8,755 |
| 1970-1980 | 12,179 |
| 1980-1990 | 12,729 |
| 1990-2000 | 6,171 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,995 |
| 2010-2019 | 901 |
| 2020-2029 | 258 |
Famous people named Geoffrey
- Geoffrey Chaucer: Poet, Author
- Geoffrey Rush: Actor
Nicknames
Geoff, Jeff
Fun facts
- Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales, helped immortalize the medieval spelling of the name.
- The name entered the English language after the Norman Conquest of 1066, replacing older Anglo-Saxon forms.