Jeffrey
Boy name · #552 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Jeffrey? In official American birth records, Jeffrey has been tracked continuously since 1885, giving it 140 years of documented American history.
Jeffrey ranks #552 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 544 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #290, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,309 boys born in 2025 was named Jeffrey.
The 140-year story
Jeffrey first appears in the Social Security records in 1885, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1962, when 33,537 boys were named Jeffrey — good for #10 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Jeffrey per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jeffrey against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jeffrey in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Jeffrey is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Jeffrey will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Jeffrey is most common
Geography matters for names, and Jeffrey is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Jeffrey is most common in MO (0.6 per 1,000), KY (0.6 per 1,000), AL (0.6 per 1,000), NJ (0.6 per 1,000), OH (0.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Jeffrey is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Jeffrey
Statistically, parents drawn to Jeffrey tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Gregory, Joey, Stanley, Jeffery, and Rodney.
GregoryJoeyStanleyJefferyRodneyJohnnyJayDanny
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jeffrey | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 544 | #552 |
| 2024 | 588 | #520 |
| 2023 | 622 | #485 |
| 2022 | 681 | #452 |
| 2021 | 727 | #424 |
| 2020 | 794 | #386 |
| 2019 | 881 | #364 |
| 2018 | 1,016 | #329 |
| 2017 | 1,056 | #324 |
| 2016 | 1,173 | #301 |
| 2015 | 1,261 | #290 |
| 2014 | 1,380 | #266 |
| 2013 | 1,406 | #256 |
| 2012 | 1,508 | #240 |
| 2011 | 1,440 | #246 |
| 2010 | 1,625 | #221 |
| 2009 | 1,719 | #216 |
| 2008 | 1,998 | #198 |
| 2007 | 2,131 | #191 |
| 2006 | 2,267 | #180 |
| 2005 | 2,425 | #171 |
| 2004 | 2,723 | #149 |
| 2003 | 2,885 | #140 |
| 2002 | 3,000 | #132 |
| 2001 | 3,207 | #119 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Jeffrey?
In official American birth records, the name Jeffrey first appeared in 1885 (over 140 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Jeffrey a popular boy name?
Jeffrey ranked #552 among boys in 2025 with 544 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #290.
When was the name Jeffrey most popular?
Jeffrey peaked in 1962, when 33,537 American boys received the name (ranked #10 that year). Since 1962 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jeffrey?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,309 newborn American boys was named Jeffrey. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.