Jefe first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Jefe has been for the last 7 years (from 2017 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Jefe

A masculine Spanish name meaning "boss" or "chief".

Popularity of Jefe by gender

Based on the last 7 years of data, Jefe is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 9 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Jefe.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 9 0
2022 5 0
2021 7 0
2020 7 0
2018 5 0
2017 5 0

The history of the first name Jefe

The name Jefe originates from the Spanish language and is a derivative of the Spanish word "jefe," which means "chief" or "boss." It is believed to have first emerged as a given name during the Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula, where Spain and Portugal are located.

Jefe is thought to have been initially used as a title or nickname for individuals who held positions of authority or leadership within their communities. As time passed, it gradually transitioned into being used as a formal given name, particularly among Spanish-speaking populations.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Jefe can be found in the medieval Spanish epic poem "El Cantar de Mio Cid," which dates back to the 12th century. In this literary work, the term "jefe" is used to describe the character El Cid, a revered military leader and prominent figure in Spanish history.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Jefe. One of the most famous was Jefe Obregón (1880-1928), a Mexican revolutionary and military leader who played a pivotal role in the Mexican Revolution and later served as the President of Mexico from 1920 to 1924.

Another prominent individual with this name was Jefe Mercado (1909-1995), a Filipino businessman and philanthropist who founded the Mercado Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines. He was widely recognized for his contributions to the country's economic development and his philanthropic efforts.

In the arts, Jefe Fernández (1932-2016) was a renowned Spanish painter and sculptor known for his abstract and surrealist works. His artworks can be found in various museums and galleries around the world.

Jefe Rodríguez (1915-2004) was a Cuban baseball player who had a successful career in the Negro Leagues and later became a respected baseball coach and manager. He was inducted into the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the sport.

Lastly, Jefe Morales (1936-2022) was a prominent Mexican-American civil rights activist and labor leader. He dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of farmworkers and played a crucial role in the formation of the United Farm Workers union alongside Cesar Chavez.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Jefe was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jefe, please contact us.

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"Jefe first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/jefe-meaning-and-history/.

"Jefe first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/jefe-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 4 July, 2025

Jefe first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/jefe-meaning-and-history/.

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