3901 Popular Baby Names That Start With J

Jewels in the ocean of names inspiring generations.

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Last Updated on Nov 13, 2024

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Baby names that start with ‘J’ are popular and diverse, offering a wide variety of choices for parents. Did you know that the letter J is one of the most rarely used letters in the English language (1)? Yet, J-letter names are common across countries and cultures. The letter J originated from the letter I, and there was a time when the two letters were used interchangeably. It was derived as a variant of the letter I and came to be recognized as an independent alphabet in the 16th century by the Venetian Renaissance grammarist, Gian Giorgio Trissino. It was the last letter to be added to the alphabet.

Names starting with the letter ‘J’ may be prevalent in many languages but their pronunciation differs. For instance, in Spanish, J is pronounced like the English H. So, the masculine name José is pronounced as ho-ZAY, and Juan is pronounced as who-ah-n. Similarly, in Slavic languages, J is often pronounced like the English letter Y. So, Jelena is pronounced as YE-LE-na, while Jovan is pronounced as YOH-vahn.

Throughout history, J-letter names have prominently featured in our stories, songs, and movies. From literary genius Jane Austen to the music icon Jimi Hendrix, talented individuals with J-letter names have left their mark in their respective fields. Even the world of politics has seen some powerful leaders with J-letter names. From the legendary Roman leader Julius Caesar to the inspirational American President John F. Kennedy, J-letter personalities have continued to inspire for centuries. The biblical names of Hebrew origin, Jacob, Joshua, and Joseph enjoy immense popularity even in the modern world as they are listed among the most popular names in the 2000s (2). Amongst feminine names, the Persian Jasmine, Roman Julia, and the Welsh Jennifer continue to allure parents year after year. J-letter names are versatile and distinct, making them a popular choice for parents across the globe. Check out the names below to pick the one that might best suit your little one.

Name	Gender	Meaning
James	Boy	Supplanter
Jack	Boy	God is gracious; Healthy; Supplanter
Jackson	Boy	Son of Jack
Jacob	Boy	May God protect; Holder of the heel; Supplanter
John	Boy	God is gracious
Joseph	Boy	He will add; Praise
Julian	Boy	Youthful; Bright; Juvenile; Downy-bearded
Josiah	Boy	Jehovah supports
Jaxon	Boy	Son of Jack; God is gracious
Joshua	Boy	God is salvation

Josephine	Girl	God shall grow; Jehovah increases
Jonathan	Boy	Gift of God
Jameson	Boy	Son of James; Supplanter
Jeremiah	Boy	Yahweh will exalt
Jordan	Boy	To descend; To flow down
Jose	Boy	God will give; He will add
Jace	Boy	Healer; To heal
Jason	Boy	To heal; Healer
Josie	Girl	God will give; God is gracious
Juniper	Girl	Young; Evergreen; A type of tree

Jonah	Boy	Dove; Peaceful
Juan	Boy	God is gracious; God is merciful; Yahweh is gracious
Jasmine	Girl	Jasmine flower
Jesus	Boy	The Christian God; To save; Yahweh is salvation
Juliette	Girl	Youthful; Jove's child; Downy-bearded; Devoted to Jove
Justin	Boy	Fair; Just
Judah	Boy	Praise; To be praised; Thanksgiving
Jesse	Boy	God exists; Gift
Jasper	Boy	One who brings treasure; Treasurer
Juliana	Girl	Downy-bearded; Devoted to Jove; Youthful; Juvenile

Joel	Boy	Yahweh is god
Jeremy	Boy	Exalted by the Lord
Jax	Boy	Son of Jack; God has been gracious
Javier	Boy	The new house
Jane	Girl	God is gracious
Jorge	Boy	Farmer; Earthworker
Joanna	Girl	God is gracious
Jaiden	Boy	Thankful one; God will judge
Jocelyn	Girl	Member of a Gauts tribe; Joyful
Juliet	Girl	Young; Youthful; Jove's child; Devoted to Jove; Downy-bearded

Julianna	Girl	Downy-bearded; Devoted to Jove; Youthful; Juvenile
Jensen	Boy	Son of Jens; God is merciful; God is Gracious
Jaden	Boy	God has heard; Thankful; He will judge
Joaquin	Boy	Raised by Yahweh; Yahweh will establish
Josue	Boy	God is my salvation
Julius	Boy	Downy-bearded; Jove's child; Devoted to Jove
Jake	Boy	Holder of the heel; Supplanter; Yahweh is gracious
Jaylen	Boy	Tranquil; Blue-crested bird
Jay	Boy	Victory; Jaybird
Jared	Boy	He who descended; Rose; One who rules

Joy	Girl	Happiness; Great pleasure; Delight; Rejoice
Jeffrey	Boy	Pledge of peace
Johnny	Boy	God is gracious
Johnathan	Boy	God has given; Gift of God
Jamie	Boy	Supplanter; Holder of the heel
Jazlyn	Girl	Jasmine flower; Gift from God
Jayceon	Boy	Healer
Jaxton	Boy	Son of Jack; God is gracious
Jolene	Girl	God is gracious; Pretty; God will add
Jaime	Boy	Supplanter; One who follows; Holder of the heel

Jacqueline	Girl	Supplanter; May God protect; Holder of the heel
Jimena	Girl	To hear; To listen; Flat-nosed
Jessica	Girl	God beholds
Jennifer	Girl	White phantom; Fair lady; Supernatural
Jase	Boy	Healer; The Lord is salvation
Jasiah	Boy	Yahweh supports
Jamison	Boy	Son of James; Supplanter
Jonas	Boy	Dove; God is gracious
Jaziel	Boy	God is my maker
Journi	Girl	Of the day; Defined course of traveling

Jamari	Boy	A good-looking man; Beauty; The pool
Jamir	Boy	He who is handsome; Beautiful; The pool
Jaliyah	Girl	Sublime; Exalted; Ascending
Jenna	Girl	White phantom; Fair lady; Supernatural; God is merciful; God is Gracious
Jemma	Girl	Gem; Precious stone; Dove
Jalen	Boy	Supplanter; Brave lion
Julio	Boy	Sacred to Jupiter; Youthful; Downy-bearded
Julieta	Girl	Youthful; Jove's child; Downy-bearded; Devoted to Jove
Julien	Boy	Jove's child; Youthful; Downy-bearded; Devoted to Jove
Johan	Boy	God is gracious

Justice	Boy	Righteous; Just; Fair
Jessie	Girl	To behold; God is gracious; Gift
Julie	Girl	Youthful; Downy-bearded; Soft hair
Jaxxon	Boy	Son of Jack
Jayda	Girl	Precious stone Jade; Stone of the flank; He knows; Wise; Gift
Jakari	Unisex	Supplanter; Cauldron; Hollow
Jada	Girl	Gift; Precious stone; Jade; He knows
Johanna	Girl	God is gracious
Joziah	Boy	Yahweh supports
Jefferson	Boy	Son of Jeffrey; Peaceful territory

Joelle	Girl	Yahweh is God
Jerry	Boy	God will exalt; Sacred name; Power of the spear
Jolie	Girl	Pretty; Joy; Pleasure; Contentment
Junior	Boy	Young; Child; Younger
Jenesis	Girl	Birth; Origin
Janiyah	Girl	God is gracious; Favored
Jimmy	Boy	Holder of the heel; Supplanter; May God protect
Jovie	Girl	Joyful; Merry; Cheerful; God is gracious; Day of Jupiter
Jianna	Boy	God is gracious
Jagger	Boy	Carter; Peddler

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Parents might look for baby names that start with ‘J’ as these are popular and adaptable. Some J-letter names have been around for centuries and are borne by historical or famous personalities, which only adds to their popularity. If you are looking for a J-letter name for your child, ensure it has a positive meaning and is considered relevant even in modern times. Whether you pick a traditional or an offbeat, contemporary name, the letter J can ensure your child carries it with pride.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are some good J names for Indian boys?

Sanskrit and Hindi names like Jagadesh, Jagadip, Jagajit, Jeet, and Jasraj are a few Indian boy names that start with the letter J.

2. What are some popular names that start with J?

According to the US Social Security Administration (SSA) data, many popular names start with J (1). These include Jacob, Joshua, Joseph, James, John, Jonathan, Jessica, Justin, Jasmine, Julia, Jose, Jennifer, Jack, Jason, and many more.

3. What are some rare J names?

Several names starting with J are rare. Some examples are Jaska of Finnish origin, the Polish name Jasia, and the Afghan name Jaah.

4. What name starts with J for a Hindu girl?

Some Hindu girl names that start with the letter J are Jyoti, Jagruti, Jaganmayee, Jahanvi, and Jaya. The majority of Hindu girl names are of Sanskrit and Hindi origin.

5. Which Hindu God name starts with J?

The Hindu God Jagannath, which means ‘Lord of the universe’, is one of the most prominent Hindu Gods. He is considered the form of the Lord Vishnu.

Infographic: J-Letter Baby Names In Different Languages

The letter J may be one of the least used letters in English, but it is versatile, featuring names across various cultures and languages. Though pronounced differently in each language, J-letter names possess a unique flair. They can be both traditional and modern, offering a wide range of choices. The infographic below gives you a few options of J-letter names you might consider for your little angel.

baby names that start with j (infographic)

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

The frequency of the letters of the alphabet in English.
https://www3.nd.edu/~busiforc/handouts/cryptography/letterfrequencies.html
Popular names of the period 2000s
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/decades/names2000s.html

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.