Jeffrey
/ˈd͡ʒɛf.ɹi/
Jeffrey is an American spelling variant of Geoffrey, itself from the Old French Geoffroi or Germanic Godafrid, combining god (“God” or “good”) and frid (“peace”), giving “peace of God” or “divine peace.”
The name was brought to England by the Normans and became common across medieval Europe. Geoffrey of Monmouth, who wrote the Historia Regum Britanniae in the 12th century, was among its most influential early bearers.
Jeffrey reached an extraordinary peak at No. 9 in 1966 with 30,199 births. In 2024 it sits at No. 520 with 587 births, a name whose dominant era has clearly passed.
What the name Jeffrey means
The name defined a generation of American men: Jeffrey Archer, Jeffrey Bezos, Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Its peak in the 1960s means most Jeffreys alive today are in their 50s and 60s.
Three syllables—JEF-ree—are easy across all English dialects. The common short form Jeff became so dominant in the mid-20th century that it effectively replaced the full name in daily use.
As a baby name, Jeffrey carries the patina of its boomer era. Parents who still choose it today are typically honouring a family member or deliberately choosing a vintage name.
The spelling divergence—Jeffrey vs Geoffrey—reflects an American preference for phonetic spelling that developed in the early 20th century.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Jeffrey
Jeffrey - similar names
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