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Jefferson Boy

Popularity: #582 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationJEFF-er-sun / /ˈdʒɛfərsən/

English; French

Meaning

English: son of Jeffrey; French: derived from the Old French name Geffroi

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Jefferson is of English origin, derived from the medieval given name "Jeffrey," which itself comes from the Old French "Geoffroi," a variant of the Germanic name "Godefrid." The components of this name can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic elements "god," meaning "god," and "frid," meaning "peace." The name entered the English language following the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, as many Norman names were adopted into English vernacular. Over time, the suffix "-son" was added, indicating "son of Jeffrey," which evolved into Jefferson.

Historically, the name Jefferson gained prominence in the 18th century, particularly through the figure of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. His contributions to American political philosophy and the founding of the nation solidified the name's association with ideals of liberty and democracy. Jefferson's influence extended beyond politics; he was also a noted architect and a proponent of education, founding the University of Virginia in 1819.

Culturally, the name Jefferson carries connotations of leadership and intellectualism, reflecting the legacy of Thomas Jefferson and his role in shaping American history. The name has been used in various contexts, including literature and the arts, often symbolizing the Enlightenment values of reason and individual rights. The diminutive form "Jeff" has also been historically relevant, serving as a more informal version of the name while retaining its original associations. Overall, Jefferson embodies a rich historical narrative that intertwines with significant cultural and political developments.

Trend Summary

Jefferson has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a notable rise in the late 20th century.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Jeff
  • Jeffy

International Variants

  • Jefferson (Spanish)
  • Jefferson (Portuguese)

Famous people named Jefferson

Jefferson Airplane is a rock band best known for White Rabbit, Somebody to Love, and Volunteers.

Jefferson Davis was a military officer and politician best known for being the President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.

Fictional characters named Jefferson

Jefferson is a fictional character from the TV series Once Upon a Time. He is the Mad Hatter, known for his obsession with his daughter and his ability to manipulate time and space.

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Jefferson was first seen in the United States in 1880. Jefferson has ranked as high as #942 nationally, which occurred in 2009, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Georgia. In the past 5 years the name Jefferson has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Jefferson (2024)

StateBirthsShare
TX 48
16%
CA 34
11%
FL 31
10%
NC 24
8%
NY 21
7%
GA 19
6%
VA 17
6%
TN 15
5%
MD 12
4%
KY 10
3%
MA 9
3%
SC 9
3%
MN 7
2%
IN 7
2%
PA 7
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
188043
188131
188234
188332
188439
188538
188634
188732
188833
188939
189039
189140
189240
189325
189430
189528
189623
189717
189838
189911
190024
190127
190224
190320
190421
190522
190625
190732
190825
190924
191025
191147
191264
191392
1914105
1915150
1916109
1917152
1918149
1919146
1920154
1921162
1922160
1923159
1924177
1925143
1926142
1927129
1928109
192994
1930100
1931108
1932119
193386
1934105
1935101
193667
193773
193861
193988
1940102
1941104
1942101
194398
1944119
1945105
1946120
1947137
1948123
1949133
1950147
1951162
1952154
1953155
1954178
1955196
1956160
1957160
1958192
1959234
1960173
1961223
1962214
1963177
1964205
1965171
1966186
1967208
1968214
1969246
1970276
1971266
1972233
1973285
1974234
1975177
1976194
1977161
1978164
1979175
1980176
1981182
1982158
1983139
1984159
1985170
1986153
1987145
1988170
1989186
1990207
1991224
1992209
1993266
1994225
1995242
1996236
1997236
1998227
1999287
2000243
2001225
2002254
2003249
2004310
2005348
2006359
2007417
2008419
2009444
2010363
2011326
2012394
2013414
2014439
2015378
2016432
2017353
2018364
2019326
2020357
2021357
2022332
2023339
2024374