Overview
Baby names that start with J are popular in the US and many parts of the world. Lots of celebrities have names that start with J, with some even taking the letter itself as part of their screen name.
Singer Jennifer Lopez styles her name as “J.Lo,” and rapper Jay Mumford is better known as “J-Zone,” for example.
We made this list of baby boy names that start with the letter J with name meanings to help you pick the right one for your little boy.
What Are The Best & Most Popular Baby Names That Start With J?
Jasper
- Origin: Persian and English
- Meaning: Treasurer
- Description: Modern version of “Gaspar” or “Caspar,” one of the “three wise men”
Jean
- Origin: English and French
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Description: Another form of “John”
Jeffrey
- Origin: Anglo-Saxon, German, and English
- Meaning: Pledge of peace
- Description: English version of “Geoffrey”
Jerry
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Spear
- Description: Fierce name related to “Gerald”
Joshua
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God is deliverance
- Description: Originates from “Yehoshua” derived from “yeho” (God) and “shua” (to deliver or save)
Classic Baby Names Beginning With J From Mythology
Janus
- Origin: Roman
- Meaning: God of beginnings
- Description: Roman god of beginnings, time, and gates
Jason
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Healer
- Description: The leader of the Argonauts in Greek mythology
Juno
- Origin: Roman
- Meaning: Youth
- Description: Strong unisex name that pays homage to the chief Roman goddess
Jupiter
- Origin: Roman
- Meaning: The supreme god
- Description: Roman god of the sky and lightning, and also the king of the gods
Juventus
- Origin: Roman
- Meaning: Youth
- Description: Male version of Juventas, the Roman goddess of youth
Famous Male Athletes & Celebrities With Names Starting With J
Jackson
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Son of John
- Description: “Jackson” is a famous surname, particularly due to Michael Jackson, the Jackson 5, and many other Jacksons in the showbiz industry. Although a surname, it’s also good for use as a first or middle name.
Jagger
- Origin: British
- Meaning: The one who cuts
- Description: Mick Jagger is famous as the lead singer of the popular rock band Rolling Stones
Jim
- Origin: English and Hebrew
- Meaning: Supplanter or holder of the heel
- Description: Some famous Jims: Jim Carrey, Jim Brickman, and Jim Hanks
Johnny
- Origin: English
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Description: Famous celebrities: Johnny Depp, Johnny Cash, and Johnny Carson
Jordan
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: To flow down
- Description: Famous Jordans (names and last names): Michael Jordan, Michael B. Jordan, Jordan Peele, and Jordan Klepper
Adorable J Names Inspired by Books & Movies
Jabari
- Origin: Swahili
- Meaning: Brave
- Description: Name of the Wakandan tribe who didn’t approve of the modernized use of vibranium in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), particularly the “Black Panther”
Jarvis
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Servant spear
- Description: Name of the AI in the “Iron Man” and “Avengers” movies in the MCU
Jean-Luc
- Origin: French
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Description: Name of the starship USS Enterprise’s captain in the “Star Trek” series
Jiminy
- Origin: Hebrew and English
- Meaning: Supplanter
- Description: Name of the cricket from the “Pinocchio” movie
Joffrey
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Peace of a strange
- Description: One of the kings from the “Game of Thrones”
Boy Names That Start With J From Video Games
Jago
- Origin: Cornish
- Meaning: He grasps the heel
- Description: Mysterious warrior monk in “Killer Instinct”
Jedah
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God knows
- Description: 6,000-year-old being in the “Darkstalkers”
Jin
- Origin: Chinese name
- Meaning: Bright and beautiful
- Description: One of the main heroes in the “Tekken” series
Jiro
- Origin: Japanese name
- Meaning: Second son
- Description: Among the few characters who appear in all the games in “Battle High”
Jorge
- Origin: Greek and English
- Meaning: Farmer
- Description: Among the best supersoldiers in “Halo Alpha”
J Nicknames You Can Use As Short First Names for Boys
J: What Is The Name J Short For?
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Varied meaning, depending on the name it stands for
- Description: Usually linked to “Jay” but can mean any name that starts with the letter J
Ja
- Origin: African
- Meaning: Magnetic
- Description: Can also mean “the attractive one”
Jax
- Origin: English
- Meaning: God has been gracious
- Description: Modern form of “John” or “Jacques”
Joe
- Origin: Hebrew and English
- Meaning: God will give
- Description: Modern form of “Yosef” or “Joseph”
JR
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Younger
- Description: Abbreviation of “junior”
What Are Some Good Boy Names That Start With The Letter J?
Jacoby
- Origin: Hebrew and English
- Meaning: He who supplants
- Description: Another form of “Jacob”
Jamar
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Handsome
- Description: Can also mean “sparks”
Japhet
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Handsome or beautiful
- Description: Can also mean “may he expand”
Jensen
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Description: Also means “son of Jan”
Jules
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Youthful
- Description: French form of “Julius”
What Are Some Unique Baby Boy Names That Start With J?
Jamshid
- Origin: Persian
- Meaning: King
- Description: Also means “sun’s rays” or “sunlight”
Jonty
- Origin: English
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Description: Also means “God has given”
Junien
- Origin: Hebrew and Latin
- Meaning: God will uplift
- Description: Derived from “istunus” or “iustus” (just)
Jurgen
- Origin: Greek and German
- Meaning: Earth-worker
- Description: Also means “son of George”
Juste
- Origin: Latin and French
- Meaning: Just, lawful, and righteous
- Description: Good choice for a baby who can grow up to be a fair, righteous man
What Are Cool & Cute Names That Start With J?
Jack
- Origin: Native American and English
- Meaning: Moon
- Description: Another form of “Jacques”
Jaden
- Origin: English and Hebrew
- Meaning: God has heard
- Description: Also means “he will judge”
Jalen
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Healer or tranquil
- Description: Another form of “Galen”
Jedi
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God knows and protects
- Description: Also means “beloved by God”
Justice
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Just, upright, and righteous
- Description: Related to the biblical name “Justus”
What Are The Rarest Names For Boys?
Jabbar
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Mighty and colossal
- Description: A name attributed to Allah as Al-Jabbar (the all-compelling)
Jaafan
- Origin: African and Arabic
- Meaning: Small river or rivulet
- Description: Related to “Jaafar”
Jacorey
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Best boy and hollow
- Description: Combination of “Jacob” (best boy) and “Corey” (hollow)
Jamison
- Origin: Hebrew and Old English
- Meaning: One who replaces something or someone
- Description: Also means “son of James”
Jaylen
- Origin: Hebrew, Greek, and American
- Meaning: Healer
- Description: Also means “thankful”
Strong Biblical J Names for Baby Boys
Some biblical boy names to choose from:
Jacob
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Supplanter
- Description: Known as the “one that struggled with the divine angel,” Jacob was renamed “Israel” and became the father of the nation
James
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: The replacer
- Description: One of Jesus’ first and most loyal disciples
Jeremiah
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Appointed by God
- Description: Among the major prophets in the Bible
Jesse
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: The Lord exists
- Description: He’s King David’s father
Jethro
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Eminent
- Description: Moses’ father-in-law
Joel
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: The Lord is God
- Description: He’s a minor prophet who wrote a book or chapter in the Bible
Jonah
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Dove
- Description: One of the minor prophets known for being swallowed by a whale
Joseph
- Origin: Hebrew, Latin, and Greek
- Meaning: God will give
- Description: Several Josephs in the Bible: Joseph the dreamer (one of Jacob’s 12 sons), Joseph the earthly father of Jesus, and Joseph of Arimathea who offered his tomb for Jesus
Josiah
- Origin: Hebrew and Latin
- Meaning: God supports and heals
- Description: One of the youngest and best kings of Judah (a kingdom of Israel)
Jude
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Praised
- Description: An apostle and possibly one of Jesus’ brothers
Common Middle Boy Names That Start With J
Jedd
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Beloved of Jehovah or beloved of the Lord
- Description: Can also mean “courageous” or “one who possesses wisdom”
Jesus
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God is my salvation
- Description: Also means “savior”
Johan
- Origin: Danish
- Meaning: Gift from God
- Description: Another form of “John”
Julien
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Jove’s child
- Description: Also means “sky father”
June
- Origin: Latin and English
- Meaning: Young or month of June
- Description: Has links to Juno, the Roman mythological goddess
Unisex Boy & Girl Names That Start With J
Jacky
- Origin: Old English and Hebrew
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Description: It can also be a nickname or pet name to “Jack,” “Jacques,” and “Jacqueline”
Jai
- Origin: Sanskrit and Indian
- Meaning: Victory
- Description: Can be a version of “Jay”
Jamie
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: May God protect
- Description: Can also mean “supplanter”
Jan
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Yahweh the gracious
- Description: Unisex version of “John”
Jove
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Father of the sky
- Description: King of the Roman gods, but the name is now used as a gender-neutral name in modern times
Modern & Invented J Names for Baby Boys
Jamuel
- Origin: American, Hebrew, and Greek
- Meaning: God has heard
- Description: Variant of “Samuel”
Javid
- Origin: Hebrew, Latin, and American
- Meaning: Beloved
- Description: Variant of “David”
Jogan
- Origin: Irish name
- Meaning: Little hollow
- Description: Variant of “Logan”
Jyan
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: Little king
- Description: Variant of “Ryan”
Jyson
- Origin: Greek and Hebrew
- Meaning: Healer and son of a nobleman
- Description: Mix of Jason and Bryson
Contemporary J Word Names to Use As Boy Names
Jag
- Origin: English and Indian
- Meaning: Tooth on a saw (English) or the universe (Indian)
- Description: Can also be a nickname for “Jaguar”
Jet
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Home ruler and drop of the sea
- Description: Can also mean “black gemstone”
Jezail
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Type of musket
- Description: Can also mean “long barrel”
Jivey
- Origin: American
- Meaning: Lively
- Description: Can also stand for independence and reliability
Jonquil
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Type of flower
- Description: Unisex flower name
Popular J Names for Baby Boys From Around the World
American Baby Boy Names Beginning With J
Jace
- Origin: Greek, Hebrew, and American
- Meaning: Healer
- Description: Can also mean “the Lord of salvation”
Jaxon
- Origin: Hebrew and American
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Description: Modern spelling for “Jackson” or “son of Jack”
Jayden
- Origin: Hebrew and American
- Meaning: Thankful
- Description: Can also mean “God will judge”
Jeremy
- Origin: Hebrew and English
- Meaning: Lifted up or appointed by God
- Description: Variation of “Jeremiah”
Jett
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Jet black
- Description: Can also mean “black gemstone”
Hispanic & Spanish Baby Boy Names That Start With J
Jacinto
- Origin: Spanish and Hispanic
- Meaning: Purple flower name
- Description: Spanish male variant of “Hyacinth”
Javier
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: New house
- Description: Variation to “Xavier”
Joaquin
- Origin: Hebrew and Hispanic
- Meaning: Lifted by Yahweh
- Description: Spanish version of “Joachim” or “Jojakim”
Jose
- Origin: Hebrew and Hispanic
- Meaning: God will give
- Description: Hispanic form of “Joseph” or “Yosef”
Julian
- Origin: Greek, French, and Hispanic
- Meaning: Youthful
- Description: Pronounced with an “h” instead of “j
European Baby Boy Names Starting With J
Jari
- Origin: Finnish
- Meaning: Helmeted warrior
- Description: Can also mean “God will raise up”
Jere
- Origin: Finnish
- Meaning: Exalted of the Lord
- Description: Can also mean “appointed by God”
Jon
- Origin: Greek and English
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Description: Another variant of “John”
Julius
- Origin: Roman and Latin
- Meaning: Downy-bearded
- Description: Can also mean “devoted to Jove”
Justus
- Origin: German, Latin, and Dutch
- Meaning: Just and upright
- Description: Can also mean “the righteous one”
J Names For Boys From Africa and Asia
Jahi
- Origin: African
- Meaning: Dignified
- Description: Can also mean “bright” and “shining”
Jamal
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Handsome
- Description: Can also mean “grace” and “beauty”
Jawed
- Origin: Persian
- Meaning: The eternal one
- Description: Can also be spelled as “Javed” or “Javid”
Jericho
- Origin: Hebrew and Greek
- Meaning: City of the moon
- Description: Famous walled city in the Bible conquered by Joshua
Jonathan
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God has given
- Description: Can also means “God’s gift”
Baby Name Resources For Boys
- 3 syllable boy names
- Ancient Greek names
- Anime baby names
- Anime boy names
- Black boy names
- Chinese baby names
- Chinese boy names
- French baby names
- French boy names
- German baby names
- German boy names
- Greek baby names
- Greek boy names
- Greek dog names
- Greek mythology names
- Irish baby names
- Irish boy names
- Italian baby names
- Italian boy names
- Japanese baby names
- Japanese boy names
- Korean baby names
- Korean boy names
- Male Greek god names
- Mexican baby names
- Mexican boy names
- Russian baby names
- Russian boy names
Other Baby Name Lists By Letter
- Girl names starting with A
- Boy names starting with F
- Boy names starting with G
- Girl names starting with G
- Girl names starting with J
- Names that start with J for boys and girls
- Girl names starting with K
- Boy names that start with L
- Boy names starting with N
- Boy names starting with R
- Boy names that start with V
- Boy names starting with W