Jeffrey

English

Etymology

Variant of Geoffrey.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɛfɹi/
• Homophone: Geoffrey

Proper noun

Jeffrey

1. A male given name from the Germanic languages, the usual U.S. spelling of Geoffrey. Popular in the latter half of the 20th century.
   • 2005, Harvella Jones, The Texas Homestead Hoax, Trafford Publishing, →ISBN, page 59:

     - - - you should also be able to sue your association's attorney when they step over the line as Attorney Jeffrey Ewalt did. Oh, my gosh! Even as I say his name Jeffrey, Jeffrey. Jeffrey is a name assigned to little boys with small toys. A cute innocent little boy that would do no harm to anyone. I recommend a name change for Jeffrey Ewalt from Jeffrey to Lucifer.

2. A surname originating as a patronymic derived from Geoffrey.
   • 1809, George Gordon Byron, English Bards and Scotch reviewers:A Satire:

     Health to great [Francis] Jeffrey! Heaven preserve his life
     To flourish on the fertile shores of Fife
     And guard it sacred in the future wars
     Since authors sometimes seek the field of Mars!

Related terms

• Jeff

Translations

male given name — see Geoffrey

Anagrams

• Jeffery

Middle English

Proper noun

Jeffrey

1. Alternative form of Geffrey