The first name Geoffrey
A boy’s name meaning “peace”, “sanctuary”, “a geat”.
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒɛfɹi/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Geoffrey means “peace”, “sanctuary”, “a geat”.
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. Partially displaced Old English Ceolfriþ.
More names that mean god, peace.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 9 boys were named Geoffrey, making it the 2,440th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1998, with 32 births (#571).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Geoffrey with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Geoffrey at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 31 boys born in the United States were named Geoffrey, the 3,599th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1975, when 1,395 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Geoffrey in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Geoffrey
136 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Geoffrey Chaucer14th century English poet and author (1343–1400)
- Geoffrey RushAustralian actor (born 1951)
- Geoffrey HintonBritish-Canadian computer scientist and psychologist, born 1947
- Geoffrey WilkinsonBritish Nobel laureate in Chemistry, 1921–1996
- Geoffrey KondogbiaFrench footballer (born 1993)
- Geoffrey Ingram TaylorBritish mathematician and physicist (1886-1975)
- Geoffrey IIEnglish noble, Duke of Brittany jure uxoris, 1158–1186
- Geoffrey HoweBritish politician (1926–2015)
- Geoffrey LewisAmerican actor (1935-2015)
- Geoffrey BlakeAmerican actor, born 1962
- Geoffrey BurbidgeBritish astronomer (1925–2010)
- Geoffrey de HavillandEnglish aircraft engineer (1882–1965)
Questions
- What does the name Geoffrey mean?
- Geoffrey means “peace”, “sanctuary”, “a geat”.
- How popular is the name Geoffrey?
- In 2025, 9 boys born in England and Wales were named Geoffrey, ranking 2,440th. Its peak was 1998, with 32 births.
- What are nicknames for Geoffrey?
- Common nicknames for Geoffrey include Geoff, Geoffie, Jep.
- Is Geoffrey a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 54,534 US babies named Geoffrey since 1880 were boys.
- When was Geoffrey most popular?
- 1975 in the United States, when 1,395 babies were named Geoffrey, its highest rank at 167th.
- How do you pronounce Geoffrey?
- Geoffrey is /ˈd͡ʒɛfɹi/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Geoffrey?
- Jeffrey, Jeffery, Jeoffrey, Jeoffery, Geoffery and Geffery.
- Is Geoffrey also a surname?
- Yes. Geoffrey is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.