Godfrey Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Godfrey originated from the Old French 'Godefroy' and Germanic roots meaning 'God's peace'. It has evolved through various historical forms and remains associated with nobility and peace. The name has no direct biblical relevance but has been used by notable historical figures.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Godfrey"
Pronunciation
/ˈɡɒd.fri/
Origin
Old French and Old German
Etymology
Godfrey is derived from the Old French name 'Godefroy', which comes from the Germanic elements 'god' meaning 'god' and 'frid' meaning 'peace'.
Meaning
God's peace
Language Evolution
Godafrid, Godefrid, Godefroy
Historical Usage
Godfrey was popular in medieval Europe and was borne by several notable figures, particularly in the context of the Crusades.
Variants & Derivatives
Geoffrey, Godfry, Godfrid
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Godfrey is considered a classic name, though it is less common in contemporary usage. It evokes a sense of historical significance and nobility.
Famous People
Godfrey of Bouillon, Godfrey Cambridge, Godfrey Gao
📊 Godfrey Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Godfrey Name Visualizations
✨ Godfrey Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 71 peak births in 1918
Geographic Spread
Popular across 15 US states, with strongest presence in Louisiana
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 7 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Godfrey"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Godfrey"
"Godfrey" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 930th of 7545 | 863 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1256th of 6773 | 554 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1232nd of 7552 | 730 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2053rd of 10718 | 333 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3070th of 16616 | 297 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6843rd of 24088 | 164 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 7581st of 23106 | 122 |
Regional Popularity of "Godfrey" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
74.79% 1059th/1416 |
50.62% 698th/1379 |
51.56% 1220th/2366 |
80.30% 917th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
52.70% 820th/1556 |
65.28% 1536th/2353 |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
58.24% 1297th/2227 |
45.14% 1097th/2430 |
51.28% 1463rd/2853 |
44.68% 1240th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
49.61% 1728th/3483 |
- |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
49.50% 2215th/4475 |
67.60% 3511th/5194 |
60.06% 3794th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
76.12% 3931st/5164 |
- | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Godfrey" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Godfrey"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Godfrey" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Godfrey" in the United States
The name Godfrey is most popular in Louisiana, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Godfrey has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Godfrey' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 930th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1256th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1232nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2053rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3070th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6843rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7581st out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Godfrey' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.