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

Popularity: The name Jefferson ranked 721st in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 662nd in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

Narrative: In the United States, this name is probably most often given in honor of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), author of the Declaration of Independence, founder of the University of Virginia and third President of the United States.

He was a true renaissance man -- in addition to the multiple talents he employed as a Founding Father of the U.S., he was a capable arichitect, musician and inventor.