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Jef as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Jef

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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.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 1.0
Origin: Dutch
Pronunciation: Dutch: /jɛf/ (YEHF); English: /dʒɛf/ (JEFF)

What is the meaning of the name Jef ?

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.

Jef has the following similar or variant Names

Jef – Popularity by country

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:

Belgium
Flanders, Belgium
France
AE
AR

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People also ask about Jef

Jef is predominantly a boy's name.
Jef is a one syllable name, pronounced Dutch: /jɛf/ (YEHF); English: /dʒɛf/ (JEFF).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Jeff, Geoff, Jefke, Jeffrey and Geoffrey.
Yes — Jef ranked #127 in Belgium in 2024, and appears in official birth registries across 2 countries.
Jef ranks highest in Belgium (#127 in 2024).
Jef's popularity is rising. It moved from #130 in 2014 to #127 in 2024 in Belgium.