# Jeff

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /d͡ʒɛf/ · frequency rank #3,310

## Definitions
1. A diminutive of the male given names Jeffrey, Jeffery, Jefferey, Jeffry, or Jefferson.
2. A surname.

## Etymology
From Jeffrey, a variant of Geoffrey, from Middle English Geffrey, from an Old French aristocratic name, Geoffroi [dʒɔfreʲ] (> West Middle French Geoffrey, East Middle French Geoffroy), itself from Proto-French forms (latinized in -us) Jotfredus, Jozsfredus, Josfredus (10th century) and Jof[f]redus, Jofridus, Jaufredus, Geffredus (11th century), and ultimately of Proto-Germanic origin. The second element is *friþuz (“peace, sanctuary”). The first element may be *gautaz (“a Geat, a Goth”) [making the Proto-Germanic term *Gautafriþu], as opposed to *gōdaz (“good”) or *gudą (“god”) in Godfrey; this would also make it related to Jocelyn. The name was introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century.

## Easily confused with
- **jet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jet)
- **Jew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jew)
- **Jen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jen)
- **JFK** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jfk)
- **jer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jer)
- **Jem** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jem)
- **Jews** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jews)
- **jets** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jets)
- **jerk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jerk)
- **Jess** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jess)
- **jest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jest)
- **Jenn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jenn)
- **Jena** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jena)
- **jeju** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jeju)
- **jeon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jeon)
- **jell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jell)
- **jiffy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeff-vs-jiffy)
- **Jeb** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeb-vs-jeff)
- **Jed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jed-vs-jeff)
- **jean** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jean-vs-jeff)

## Common misspellings (4)
`ejff`, `jef`, `jfef`, `jjeff`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/jeff