Declining since 1985, #3,314 for boys today.
Popularity of Jeff since 1880
Babies named Jeff per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 685 |
| 1890s | 661 |
| 1900s | 605 |
| 1910s | 1,532 |
| 1920s | 1,861 |
| 1930s | 1,522 |
| 1940s | 5,909 |
| 1950s | 24,920 |
| 1960s | 62,072 |
| 1970s | 12,249 |
| 1980s | 3,787 |
| 1990s | 1,890 |
| 2000s | 1,518 |
| 2010s | 770 |
| 2020s | 258 |
Meaning & origin
Jeff reached peak popularity in 1962, when it ranked among the top names for boys in the United States. Since then, its usage has steadily declined. By 2025, it had fallen to rank 3,314, with approximately 1 in 48,802 male births. The trajectory of the name has been falling since approximately 1985, reflecting broader trends away from once-common short forms. While Jeff remains recognizable, it has become less frequent in recent decades.
Jeff is a short form of Jeffrey, itself a medieval English variant of Geoffrey. Geoffrey likely derives from a Germanic name composed of elements meaning 'territory' or 'peace' (gawia) and 'peace' (frid). The name was brought to England by the Normans. Jeff emerged as an independent given name in the 19th century and became especially popular in the United States during the mid-20th century.
Where Jeff is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Jeff” around the world
Where Jeff lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Sibling names for Jeff
Names that share Jeff's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Jeff
Names whose popularity has moved with Jeff's over the last 50 years.
