Jefferson
Boy name · #829 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Jefferson? In official American birth records, Jefferson has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Jefferson ranks #829 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 298 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #672, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 6,040 boys born in 2025 was named Jefferson.
Babies named Jefferson per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Jefferson first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 43 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2009, when 444 boys were named Jefferson — good for #588 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jefferson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jefferson in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Jefferson is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Jefferson will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Jefferson is most common
Geography matters for names, and Jefferson is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Jefferson is most common in VA (0.3 per 1,000), GA (0.3 per 1,000), NY (0.3 per 1,000), FL (0.2 per 1,000), TX (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Jefferson is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Jefferson
Statistically, parents drawn to Jefferson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jamison, Jayson, Judson, Bronson, and Tyson.
JamisonJaysonJudsonBronsonTysonBransonGersonEdison
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jefferson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 298 | #829 |
| 2024 | 375 | #710 |
| 2023 | 339 | #762 |
| 2022 | 332 | #760 |
| 2021 | 357 | #723 |
| 2020 | 357 | #706 |
| 2019 | 326 | #739 |
| 2018 | 364 | #681 |
| 2017 | 353 | #698 |
| 2016 | 432 | #620 |
| 2015 | 378 | #672 |
| 2014 | 439 | #609 |
| 2013 | 414 | #610 |
| 2012 | 394 | #617 |
| 2011 | 326 | #703 |
| 2010 | 363 | #662 |
| 2009 | 444 | #588 |
| 2008 | 419 | #599 |
| 2007 | 417 | #602 |
| 2006 | 359 | #645 |
| 2005 | 348 | #628 |
| 2004 | 310 | #656 |
| 2003 | 249 | #730 |
| 2002 | 254 | #703 |
| 2001 | 225 | #762 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Jefferson?
In official American birth records, the name Jefferson first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 43 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Jefferson a popular boy name?
Jefferson ranked #829 among boys in 2025 with 298 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #672.
When was the name Jefferson most popular?
Jefferson peaked in 2009, when 444 American boys received the name (ranked #588 that year). Since 2009 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jefferson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 6,040 newborn American boys was named Jefferson. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.