Jefferson is a name of American origin, derived from the English surname "Fairfax". The name means "son of Geoffrey", with Geoffrey being an old Germanic name that means "peace". Jefferson is also associated with Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, who was born with the name and played a significant role in shaping American history. Despite its historical ties to America, Jefferson has been used as a given name around the world, with notable individuals bearing this name coming from various countries such as Canada, Australia, and Brazil.
The name Jefferson has a rich history and has been given to many children over the years in the United States. According to the data provided, the number of births with the name Jefferson varied significantly from year to year during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Between 1880 and 1896, the annual number of births with the name Jefferson ranged from a high of 43 in 1880 to a low of 17 in 1897.
However, beginning in 1911, there was a significant increase in the popularity of the name Jefferson. In that year, there were 47 births with the name, and this number continued to rise steadily throughout the remainder of the decade. By 1920, there were 162 births with the name Jefferson, which was a significant increase from previous years.
The trend of increasing popularity for the name Jefferson continued into the mid-20th century. Between 1950 and 1973, the number of annual births with the name Jefferson ranged from a low of 147 in 1950 to a high of 285 in 1973.
However, after reaching its peak popularity in the early 1970s, the use of the name Jefferson began to decline. Between 1974 and 1996, the number of annual births with the name Jefferson ranged from a low of 139 in 1983 to a high of 241 in 1995.
Since 1997, the popularity of the name Jefferson has continued to fluctuate. In some years, such as 2007 and 2008, there were over 400 births with the name Jefferson. However, in other years, such as 2011 and 2015, the number of births with the name Jefferson fell below 300.
Overall, while the popularity of the name Jefferson has varied significantly over the years, it remains a popular choice for parents in the United States. As of 2023, there have been a total of 23,763 births with the name Jefferson in the United States since 1880.