Hebrew name meaning 'vine' or 'grapevine.'
Geffen (גֶּפֶן) is a Hebrew word-name meaning "vine" — specifically the grapevine, a symbol of extraordinary richness in biblical and Near Eastern tradition. In the Hebrew Bible, the vine appears as a symbol of Israel itself ("You brought a vine out of Egypt," Psalm 80), of peace and prosperity (every man sitting under his own vine and fig tree, a Micah 4 image of the messianic age), and of joy. Wine made from the vine is central to Jewish Sabbath and festival ritual, sanctified in the kiddush blessing.
The vine is, in short, one of the oldest and most layered natural symbols in Western religious imagination. As a surname, Geffen became globally recognizable through David Geffen (born 1943), the American record executive and film producer who co-founded Asylum Records, Geffen Records, and DreamWorks SKG — arguably the most influential individual in the American entertainment industry of the late 20th century. His name consequently carries strong associations with creative power, cultural taste, and transformation of popular music.
Artists including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Nirvana, and Guns N' Roses passed through Geffen Records. As a given name — which is rarer — Geffen offers something distinctive: a Hebrew nature name that is short, strong, and unambiguous in pronunciation, sitting alongside the trend toward botanical and natural names (Ivy, Willow, Reed) while drawing from ancient sacred imagery. It is a name with roots in the earth and in scripture, made modern by one of the 20th century's great cultural impresarios.