The baby name Jef is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced Dutch: /jɛf/ (YEHF); English: /dʒɛf/ (JEFF).
Jef is Dutch in Origin.
The baby name Jef is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced Dutch: /jɛf/ (YEHF); English: /dʒɛf/ (JEFF).
Jef is Dutch in Origin.
Jef is primarily the Dutch/Flemish short form of Jozef (Joseph), from Hebrew Yosef, “he will add” or “God will increase.” In English contexts it can also be a streamlined spelling of Jeff, linked to Jeffrey/Geoffrey, traditionally interpreted as “pledge of peace.” As such, the name carries either the biblical promise of increase or the Germanic ideal of peace.
Well established as an everyday call name in Flanders and the Netherlands since the late 19th century, Jef has often stood alone on birth records in Belgium, borne by figures like sculptor Jef Lambeaux and composer Jef Neve. Variants and relatives include Jefke (Flemish), Jeff, Geoff, Jozef, Josef, Joseph, José, Giuseppe, and, on the Jeffrey line, Jeffrey/Jeffery and Geoffrey. Short, brisk, and traditional, Jef feels both homely and continental.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA | Boys | 0 | #2 | 78 | 26 |
| MA | Girls | 0 | #3 | 86 | 18 |
| CM | 0 | #56 | 1 | 2,592 | |
| CY | 0 | #60 | 1 | 1,632 | |
| LU | 0 | #66 | 1 | 2,830 | |
| JP | 0 | #76 | 2 | 4,057 | |
| KW | 0 | #84 | 33 | 5,216 | |
| QA | 0 | #86 | 15 | 7,011 | |
| KW | Boys | 0 | #96 | 1,928 | 18,755 |
| TW | 0 | #103 | 1 | 4,523 | |
| PH | 0 | #107 | 4 | 5,607 | |
| Belgium | Boys | 2024 | #127 | 62 | 401 |
| ID | Boys | 0 | #133 | 3 | 4,130 |
| BN | Boys | 0 | #136 | 4 | 6,332 |
| MU | 0 | #137 | 1 | 3,613 | |
| BW | Boys | 0 | #153 | 2 | 4,685 |
| CR | 0 | #162 | 4 | 5,526 | |
| KW | Girls | 0 | #166 | 427 | 19,177 |
| MT | Boys | 0 | #179 | 1 | 4,064 |
| AE | 0 | #185 | 3 | 10,220 | |
| CZ | 0 | #186 | 1 | 3,154 | |
| RU | 0 | #194 | 1 | 3,641 | |
| QA | Girls | 0 | #199 | 119 | 15,378 |
| SI | Boys | 0 | #211 | 1 | 3,402 |
| LU | Boys | 0 | #219 | 2 | 4,970 |
| IR | 0 | #231 | 1 | 4,221 | |
| MO | Boys | 0 | #234 | 1 | 5,842 |
| BD | 0 | #240 | 2 | 5,992 | |
| EC | Boys | 0 | #244 | 3 | 3,322 |
| NA | Boys | 0 | #251 | 3 | 6,830 |
| TW | Boys | 0 | #255 | 2 | 7,111 |
| MO | Girls | 0 | #263 | 1 | 7,056 |
| SG | 0 | #279 | 4 | 11,010 | |
| TW | Girls | 0 | #289 | 1 | 8,139 |
| JP | Boys | 0 | #300 | 4 | 7,909 |
| SA | 0 | #309 | 4 | 10,560 | |
| MA | 0 | #314 | 2,413 | 20,986 | |
| CN | Boys | 0 | #326 | 6 | 9,639 |
| PE | 0 | #328 | 2 | 6,350 | |
| DK | Boys | 0 | #329 | 4 | 7,401 |
| PH | Boys | 0 | #337 | 47 | 11,440 |
| GT | 0 | #338 | 1 | 5,948 | |
| PL | Boys | 0 | #340 | 1 | 6,459 |
| MY | 0 | #349 | 6 | 12,352 | |
| HK | 0 | #355 | 3 | 8,483 | |
| BR | 0 | #356 | 5 | 5,969 | |
| GH | Boys | 0 | #359 | 3 | 8,138 |
| MU | Boys | 0 | #365 | 5 | 8,477 |
| NL | 0 | #376 | 16 | 2,481 | |
| PT | Boys | 0 | #379 | 3 | 7,951 |
| JO | Boys | 0 | #389 | 1 | 7,057 |
| BD | Girls | 0 | #405 | 2 | 8,413 |
| BO | 0 | #408 | 1 | 6,868 | |
| France | Boys | 2012 | #412 | 3 | 2,840 |
| EG | 0 | #412 | 1 | 6,387 | |
| UY | Boys | 0 | #413 | 1 | 5,922 |
| OM | Girls | 0 | #422 | 3 | 15,987 |
| QA | Boys | 0 | #427 | 291 | 18,093 |
| PH | Girls | 0 | #428 | 2 | 13,098 |
| CL | 0 | #434 | 1 | 6,867 | |
| CR | Boys | 0 | #457 | 31 | 10,188 |
| GT | Boys | 0 | #457 | 18 | 7,625 |
| SD | Boys | 0 | #466 | 1 | 10,523 |
| ZA | 0 | #473 | 2 | 14,421 | |
| AR | Boys | 0 | #483 | 1 | 7,628 |
| PA | Boys | 0 | #502 | 4 | 9,305 |
| CO | 0 | #509 | 2 | 7,768 | |
| HK | Boys | 0 | #517 | 11 | 12,905 |
| RU | Boys | 0 | #526 | 1 | 12,621 |
| IR | Boys | 0 | #529 | 24 | 10,162 |
| UY | Girls | 0 | #536 | 1 | 6,731 |
| BH | 0 | #541 | 13 | 17,937 | |
| IR | Girls | 0 | #545 | 1 | 8,334 |
| CM | Girls | 0 | #557 | 4 | 11,671 |
| PS | Boys | 0 | #557 | 5 | 10,655 |
| CM | Boys | 0 | #569 | 7 | 12,054 |
| NL | Boys | 0 | #570 | 429 | 5,873 |
| BD | Boys | 0 | #604 | 2 | 10,045 |
| BO | Boys | 0 | #617 | 6 | 9,244 |
| IL | Boys | 0 | #620 | 6 | 10,983 |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #632 | 1 | 18,916 |
| IL | Girls | 0 | #643 | 3 | 11,648 |
| HK | Girls | 0 | #650 | 1 | 16,104 |
| SG | Boys | 0 | #650 | 48 | 17,960 |
| LB | 0 | #686 | 5 | 13,263 | |
| CL | Boys | 0 | #696 | 5 | 13,390 |
| IQ | Boys | 0 | #696 | 2 | 13,071 |
| BR | Boys | 0 | #702 | 50 | 12,213 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #758 | 372 | 25,439 |
| SY | 0 | #767 | 1 | 11,684 | |
| NG | Girls | 0 | #826 | 1 | 15,093 |
| PE | Boys | 0 | #836 | 43 | 14,506 |
| TN | 0 | #863 | 3 | 13,765 | |
| CO | Boys | 0 | #873 | 48 | 15,656 |
| Spain | Boys | 0 | #906 | 25 | 5,610 |
| CL | Girls | 0 | #915 | 1 | 14,098 |
| OM | Boys | 0 | #915 | 4 | 17,948 |
| EG | Boys | 0 | #924 | 2 | 15,035 |
| NG | Boys | 0 | #934 | 18 | 16,906 |
| MX | Boys | 0 | #955 | 28 | 16,355 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #972 | 23 | 24,821 |
| BR | Girls | 0 | #992 | 1 | 12,708 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #1,007 | 8 | 25,931 |
| IN | Boys | 0 | #1,036 | 4 | 16,750 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,064 | 29 | 22,615 |
| CO | Girls | 0 | #1,148 | 5 | 16,140 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,149 | 30 | 25,619 |
| DZ | 0 | #1,158 | 19 | 20,130 | |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,236 | 1 | 25,928 |
| TR | 0 | #1,248 | 7 | 19,440 | |
| IT | Boys | 0 | #1,427 | 45 | 10,046 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,542 | 73 | 28,008 |
Jef is popular in 64 countries — most recent births per country:
Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!