Jefferson

Jefferson - A very unique male name

Jefferson appeared on the charts for the first time in 1911 on position #514. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Jefferson and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Jefferson? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Jefferson. The baby boy name Jefferson was given to 241 baby boys in 2025, ranking #845 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 6,084 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Jefferson peaked in popularity 111 years ago in 1915 on position 438.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Jefferson, 1-5?

Jefferson is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Jefferson is currently topping the baby name charts in Connecticut at position #462 - and is the least popular in Michigan at position #1,181.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Jefferson is where you live.

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Jefferson origin and meaning

English surname

A transferred surname meaning 'son of Jeffrey' — Jeffrey itself is a Germanic name whose elements are debated

Jefferson is a patronymic surname, and as a first name it spread in the 19th century largely in honour of Thomas Jefferson. It has been in the US data since 1911 as a modest, patriotic choice, peaking in 2014 and drifting down since — a name that reads more like a founding-era tribute than a fashion pick.

Attested etymology

Jefferson is a 9 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Jefferson, pop culture references for the name Jefferson and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Jefferson

We've found the following names that sound similar to Jefferson, sorted by popularity.

Javaris / Javarius / Javoris / Javarious / Jeferson / Javarus / Javares /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Jefferson

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Jefferson a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Jefferson?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

JEF-er-sun · /ˈdʒɛfərsən/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Jeffeson — Occasional misspelling of the surname name

Nicknames: Jeff

Famous bearers

• Thomas Jefferson — Third president of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence — Jefferson was his surname, and the given name was widely adopted in his honour (1743–1826) Historical

Style

Surname

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Jefferson for its presidential weight and its built-in, easygoing nickname Jeff.

Worth knowing

• It reads first as a surname and a place name, so it can feel formal for a small child
• It peaked in 2014 and is falling