Jeff

Where Jeff comes from

From Jeffrey, a variant of Geoffrey, from Middle English Geffrey, from an Old French aristocratic name, Geoffroi [dʒɔfreʲ] (> West Middle French Geoffrey, East Middle French Geoffroy), itself from Proto-French forms (latinized in -us) Jotfredus, Jozsfredus, Josfredus (10th century) and Jof[f]redus, Jofridus, Jaufredus, Geffredus (11th century), and ultimately of Proto-Germanic origin. The second element is *friþuz (“peace, sanctuary”). The first element may be *gautaz (“a Geat, a Goth”) [making the Proto-Germanic term *Gautafriþu], as opposed to *gōdaz (“good”) or *gudą (“god”) in Godfrey; this would also make it related to Jocelyn. The name was introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century.
— Wiktionary's entry for Jeff
  • 1 syllable
Along the way
  1. 1880
    First SSA year
    Already #188 among boys — 66 babies in the first year on record.
  2. 1952
    Jeff Goldblum born
    American actor and musician
  3. 1962
    Peak, #44
    9,424 babies named Jeff — more than any year before or since.
  4. 1966
    The fade
    The first year with half the peak's births — down to #72.
  5. 1971
    Jeff Gordon born
    American racing driver
In the dictionary
  • A diminutive of the male given names Jeffrey, Jeffery, Jefferey, Jeffry, and Jefferson.
Namesakes
  • Jeff Goldblum · American actor and musician, born 1952
  • Jeff Gordon · American racing driver, born 1971
  • Jeff Bennett · American voice actor, born 1962
  • Jeff Daniels · American actor, musician and playwright, born 1955
  • Jeff Kinney · American author and cartoonist, born 1971

Sources: the origin note and dictionary entry are quoted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0); the namesakes come from Wikidata (CC0); the milestones are worked out from the SSA record.