Jeff
Jeff is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Peaceful territory, pledge of peace, or God's peace (as a short form of Jeffrey).
Origin and history
Jeff originated as a short form of Jeffrey or Geoffrey, which derive from Germanic elements meaning peaceful pledge or territory. It became hugely popular as an independent name in the mid-20th century in the United States. Today, it remains a classic, friendly masculine name, though full forms like Jeffrey are more commonly given at birth.
Popularity in the United States
120,239 babies in the United States have been named Jeff since 1880. It ranks #276 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1669.
States where it is most popular
- CA (12.6 %)
- OH (6.9 %)
- IL (5.7 %)
- TX (5.6 %)
- MI (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 685 |
| 1890-1900 | 661 |
| 1900-1910 | 605 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,532 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,861 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,522 |
| 1940-1950 | 5,909 |
| 1950-1960 | 24,920 |
| 1960-1970 | 62,072 |
| 1970-1980 | 12,249 |
| 1980-1990 | 3,787 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,890 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,518 |
| 2010-2019 | 770 |
| 2020-2029 | 258 |
Famous people named Jeff
- Jeff Bridges: Actor, Producer
- Jeff Bezos: Entrepreneur, Industrialist
- Jeff Goldblum: Actor, Musician
Fun facts
- Jeff transitioned from a informal nickname for Jeffrey to a widely registered legal name in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s.
- Like many traditional English names, short forms like Jeff eventually gained full acceptance as standalone given names.