Jeffrey Howard

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Jeffrey Howard — peaceful pledge
887K People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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Jeffrey Howard is a name combining Germanic origins, bringing together "peaceful pledge" (Jeffrey) with "high guardian" (Howard). The first name Jeffrey is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. Jeffrey is a common English given name, and a variant form of the name Geoffrey (itself from a Middle French variant of Godfrey, Gottfried). It has been argued that the common derivation of Middle French Geoffrey (or Geoffroy), Jeffery from Godfrey is mistaken, and that the names reflect two separate first Germanic elements god vs. gaut, which became conflated in Old High German by the end of the early medieval period. Outside of North America, Geoffrey is more common than Jeffrey. The surname Howard: Howard is a common English surname. There are multiple possible origins of the name. The dominant theory pertains to the French personal names Huard and Houard adapted after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is from a Germanic source similar to Old High German *Hugihard "heart-brave," or *Hoh-ward, literally "high defender; chief guardian." Also probably in some cases a confusion with cognate Anglo-Scandinavian personal name Haward from Hávarðr, which means ha(r) "high" (or hǫð "battle") and element varðr, meaning "guardian", and sometimes also with unrelated Hayward. Jeffrey is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 887K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Jeffrey reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Jeffrey

Meaning: peaceful pledge

Germanic

Jeffrey is a common English given name, and a variant form of the name Geoffrey (itself from a Middle French variant of Godfrey, Gottfried). It has been argued that the common derivation of Middle French Geoffrey (or Geoffroy), Jeffery from Godfrey is mistaken, and that the names reflect two separate first Germanic elements god vs. gaut, which became conflated in Old High German by the end of the early medieval period. Outside of North America, Geoffrey is more common than Jeffrey.

Surname: Howard

Meaning: high guardian

Germanic

Howard is a common English surname. There are multiple possible origins of the name. The dominant theory pertains to the French personal names Huard and Houard adapted after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is from a Germanic source similar to Old High German *Hugihard "heart-brave," or *Hoh-ward, literally "high defender; chief guardian." Also probably in some cases a confusion with cognate Anglo-Scandinavian personal name Haward from Hávarðr, which means ha(r) "high" (or hǫð "battle") and element varðr, meaning "guardian", and sometimes also with unrelated Hayward.

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Geographic Distribution

The first name Jeffrey is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%
United Kingdom 27%
Australia 12%
Canada 9%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Jeffrey by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
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Notable People Named Jeffrey Howard

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Jeffrey Howard:

9
Expression Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

8
Soul Urge Number

Ambition and material success. Represents power, business acumen and the drive to achieve significant goals.

1
Personality Number

Leadership and independence. This number suggests a self-reliant, ambitious and pioneering personality that forges its own path.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Jeffrey?
The first name Jeffrey originates from Germanic. Jeffrey is a common English given name, and a variant form of the name Geoffrey (itself from a Middle French variant of Godfrey, Gottfried). It has been argued that the common derivation of Middle French Geoffrey (or Geoffroy), Jeffery from Godfrey is mistaken, and that the names reflect two separate first Germanic elements god vs. gaut, which became conflated in Old High German by the end of the early medieval period. Outside of North America, Geoffrey is more common than Jeffrey.
When was Jeffrey most popular?
The name Jeffrey reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Howard?
The surname Howard originates from Germanic. Howard is a common English surname. There are multiple possible origins of the name. The dominant theory pertains to the French personal names Huard and Houard adapted after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is from a Germanic source similar to Old High German *Hugihard "heart-brave," or *Hoh-ward, literally "high defender; chief guardian." Also probably in some cases a confusion with cognate Anglo-Scandinavian personal name Haward from Hávarðr, which means ha(r) "high" (or hǫð "battle") and element varðr, meaning "guardian", and sometimes also with unrelated Hayward.
How common is the surname Howard?
The surname Howard is shared by approximately 265K people worldwide.
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