Jeffrey

Jeffrey is one of those huge hit names from the mid-20th century. It skyrocketed in popularity during the Great Depression, going from 973rd in popularity in 1935, to 134th by 1941. But it really took off in the 1960s, when it finally hit the top 10, before slowly petering out over the 1970s and 1980s.

And who can blame parents for loving this sweet name, with its zen “peaceful” meaning?

Jeffrey has a whole slew of famous people who share the name. Think billionaire Jeff Bezos; actors like Jeff Bridges, Jeff Goldblum, Jeffrey Dean Gordon and Jeffrey Wright; author Jeffrey Eugenides; and yes, infamous folks like Jeffrey Epstein and serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

You could always go with the more official British spelling Geoffrey, or the similar spelling Joffrey (just keep in mind that name’s closely associated with a universally disliked Lannister king from Game of Thrones). Or if you’re really into that mid-century, old-is-new vibe, consider some other names from that era—like Robert, Bruce, Craig, Mark, Timothy, Kevin, Kenneth, Gregory, Ronald, Douglas, Lawrence, Roger, Troy, Russell, or Raymond.

Jeffrey in quotes:

“If you’re not stubborn, you’ll give up on experiments too soon. And if you’re not flexible, you’ll pound your head against the wall and you won’t see a different solution to a problem you’re trying to solve.” —Jeff Bezos

"I live my own life and nurse my own wounds. It's not the best way to live. But it's the way I am." —Jeffrey Eugenides, Middlesex