Jeff
Boy name · 74 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Jeff: 74 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 12 births in 1990.
Jeff is a classic short form of Jeffrey, itself an English variant of Geoffrey, which traces back to Old Germanic roots combining *gawia* (territory) or *gisil* (pledge) with *fridu* (peace), giving the name a sense of "divine peace" or "peaceful pledge." Famous bearers include Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, actor Jeff Bridges, and quirky star Jeff Goldblum, each bringing a different kind of fame to the name. While few places are named directly after Jeff, the longer form Jefferson appears in countless towns and cities worldwide, from Missouri to Kentucky, all honouring Thomas Jefferson. A notable variant is the Welsh spelling Iefan or the Scottish diminutive Geordie, but Jeff itself became a popular standalone given name in the mid-20th century, enjoying a friendly, approachable reputation that still appeals to parents today.
Boy 13 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 199012 babies
- Latest (2008)
- #6383 babies
- Total births
- 74since 1983
- 5-year trend
- ▼ 51%vs prior 5y