Jeff

Meaning: Its source is Godfrey, an English name meaning "Peaceful god."

Origin: "Godfrey."

Languages: This boy's name is used in English.

Nickname For: Geoffrey, Jeffery and Jeffrey

Alternative Spellings: Jef

Popularity: The name Jeff ranked 120th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.

Narrative: Godfrey may not be the only source for this name, which could represent the convergence of a number of ancient name forms.

Among possible alternate sources are the Old German Waldfried (''governor'') and other Germanic names containing the elements gawia (''territory''), walah (''foreigner'') and gisil (''promise'').

Arts and Music

Jeff Barry
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Da Doo Ron Ron'''' and ''''Be My Baby'''' (see list of Songwriters)
Jeff Beck (born 1944)
English musician.
- Famous guitarist (see list of Guitarists)
Jeff MacNelly (born 1947)
American cartoonist.
- Political cartoonist; Shoe (see list of Cartoonists)
Jeff Silbar
- Winner of the 1984 Country Music Association Song of the Year award, for ''''Wind Beneath My Wings'''' (see list of Country Music Association Award Winners)

Miscellaneous

Jeffrey (Jeff) T. Bezos (born 1964)
American entrepreneur
- 1999 Man of the Year, nicknamed King of Cybercommerce (see list of Time Magazine's Man of the Year Honorees)

Sports

Jeff Bagwell
Baseball player.
- 1994 National League Most Valuable Player (see list of National League Most Valuable Players)
- 1991 National League Rookie of the Year (see list of National League Rookies of the Year)
Jeff Burroughs
Baseball player.
- 1974 American League Most Valuable Player (see list of American League Most Valuable Players)
Jeff George
American football player.
- 1990 National Football League number-one draft pick (see list of Football #1 Draft Picks)
Jeff Gordon (born 1971)
- 1997 and 1999 Daytona 500 winner (see list of Daytona 500 Winners)
Jeff Rouse
American athlete.
- 1996 Olympic swimming gold medal winner for 100m backstroke (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in Miscellaneous Swimming Events)
Jeff Sluman
- 1988 Professional Golf Association tournament winner (see list of PGA Champions)

Stage and Screen

Jeff Bridges (born 1949)
American actor.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
Jeff Chandler
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
Jeff Conaway (born 1950)
American actor.
- Portrayed Bobby Wheeler from 1978-1981 (see list of Actors on ''Taxi'')
Jeff Kaake
American actor.
- Portrayed Chas Russell (see list of Actors on ''Melrose Place'')
Jeff Maitland
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by John Rubinstein (see list of Characters on ''Family'')
Jeff Trachta
- Actor on soap opera ''''The Bold and the Beautiful'''' (see list of Performers on ''The Bold and The Beautiful'')

The Literary World

Jeff Brazil
- 1993 Pulitzer Prize winner for Spot Reporting (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Spot Reporting)
Jeff Lyon
- 1987 Pulitzer Prize winner for Explanatory Journalism (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism)
Jeff Nesmith
- 1998 Pulitzer Prize winner for National Reporting, with Russell Carollo (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting)
Jeff Taylor
- 1992 Pulitzer Prize winner for National Reporting (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting)