79 Best Boy Names That Start with J | shoestring baby (2024)

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79 Best Boy Names That Start with J | shoestring baby (1)

Searching for the great boy names that start with J? Then you’ve come to the right place. Below you’ll find 79 of the best J-names for baby boys, hand-picked to save you time on your name search.

Finding the perfect baby name can feel like a daunting task. I’m here to help. I’m a researcher who uses the skills I learned in my Ph.D. to study baby name data and trends. I put together this list of J boy names to span a variety of naming styles.

Here you’ll find J names for boys that are timeless and classic. You’ll also find unique and modern J names for boys. Plus I include lists of cute J boy names and gender neutral J names.

Each name has the name’s meaning and origin. I reference my personal database of over 2000+ for these meanings. For years, I’ve been collecting names I’ve heard into this database, with data coming from forums, websites, and books.

I hope these J name ideas help you on your name search. My goal is to give you a handpicked and comprehensive list of boy J names to save you time as you decide on a name.

And don’t forget to check out my list ofJ names for twin names if you like J names.

Now let’s dive into these jaunty J names for boys!

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J names for boys

Classic boy names that start with J

First up we have classic J names for boys. These names are timeless options that have been steady favorites for generations. Classic J names offer a feeling of reputability and familiarity. A J names from this section would be a great choice for parents with a traditional naming style.

Of the names below, I particular like JEREMIAH and JONATHAN, both classic and soft names for boys.

1. JACOB

Meaning: supplanter
Origin: Hebrew

2. JAMAL

Meaning: beauty
Origin: Arabic

3. JAMES

Meaning: supplanter
Origin: Hebrew

4. JARED

Meaning: He descends
Origin: Hebrew

5. JASON

Meaning: healer
Origin: Greek

6. JEDIDIAH

Meaning: beloved by the Lord
Origin: Hebrew

7. JEFFERSON

Meaning: son of Jeffery
Origin: English

8. JEFFREY

Meaning: pledge of peace
Origin: German; English

9. JEREMIAH

Meaning: God will raise
Origin: Hebrew

10. JEREMY

Meaning: God uplifts
Origin: English; Hebrew

11. JESUS

Meaning: to rescue
Origin: Hebrew

12. JOHN

Cute boy names that start with J

Next, let’s turn to cute J names for boys. These names are warm and approachable, making them personable and endearing. Cute boy J names are great for those looking for a soft and sweet boy name.

My favorite cute J name for boys is JOSIAH, a classic biblical name that has gained a lot in popularity in the last decade (source on Josiah in the bible).

20. JACK

Meaning: God is gracious
Origin: English

21. JACI

Meaning: moon
Origin: Native American

22. JAMIR

Meaning: handsome prince
Origin: Arabic

23. JAVIER

Meaning: new house
Origin: Spanish

24. JIMMY

Meaning: supplanter
Origin: English

25. JOEL

Meaning: Lord is God
Origin: Hebrew

26. JOHNNY

Meaning: God is gracious
Origin: Hebrew

27. JOSIAH

Meaning: God heals
Origin: Hebrew

28. JOVANNI

Meaning: God is gracious
Origin: Italian; Latin

29. JULIAN

Meaning: youthful
Origin: Latin

30. JULIO

Meaning: youthful
Origin: Latin; Spanish; Portuguese

31. JUNIOR

Meaning: Younger
Origin: English

32. JAMARI

Meaning: beauty
Origin: Arabic

Modern names for boys starting with J

Next we look at modern J names for boys. These are the names that are trendy and fashionable today. Not only do modern names feel fresh, they also connect your baby to their generation.

I love that JASPER is rising quickly in the rankings for boys (perSocial Security Administration name data). JETT is also an easy and cool name that has quickly risen in the ranks among boys.

33. JACKSON

Meaning: son of Jack
Origin: English

34. JADEN

Meaning: God has heard
Origin: Hebrew

35. JALEN

Meaning: calm
Origin: American

36. JAMESON

Meaning: son of James
Origin: English

37. JASPER

Meaning: treasurer
Origin: Persian

38. JAYDEN

Meaning: thankful
Origin: Hebrew

39. JAYLEN

Meaning: thankful
Origin: American

40. JENSEN

Meaning: son of Jens
Origin: Scandinavian

41. JETT

Meaning: jet black
Origin: English

42. JONAH

Meaning: dove
Origin: Hebrew

43. JONAS

Meaning: dove
Origin: Hebrew

44. JUDSON

Meaning: Son of Judah
Origin: Hebrew

Unique baby boy names starting with J

Here is a collection of unique J names for boys. These are names that are far outside of the top 100 list in the U.S. according the Social Security Administration database. Unique names are also memorable and distinct.

I love the flow of JADIEL, a name that ranked #848 in 2022. If you like something truly unique, JOVE is very rare but sounds similar to other popular names like Jonah and Jonas.

45. JABARI

Meaning: brave
Origin: African – Swahili

46. JADIEL

Meaning: one who judges
Origin: Hebrew; Spanish

47. JAGGER

Meaning: carter
Origin: English

48. JAKAI

Meaning: God is gracious
Origin: English; Americanized Spelling

49. JAKARI

Meaning: blend of Jacob and Cory
Origin: Constructed name

50. JAZIEL

Meaning: allocated by God
Origin: Hebrew

51. JEREMIAS

Meaning: God will raise
Origin: Hebrew

52. JERICHO

Meaning: moon city
Origin: Arabic

53. JOAQUIN

Meaning: lifted by God
Origin: Spanish; Hebrew

54. JONES

Meaning: God is gracious
Origin: Hebrew

55. JOSUE

Meaning: Lord is my salvation
Origin: Spanish; Portuguese; Hebrew

56. JOVE

Meaning: Jupiter
Origin: Latin

57. JULIUS

Meaning: Youthful, Downy
Origin: Latin

58. JUSTICE

Meaning: righteous
Origin: English

79 Best Boy Names That Start with J | shoestring baby (3)

Short one-syllable J names for boys

If you like names that are short and sweet, this section is for you. Here are short, one-syllable J names for boys. These names are easy and concise, great for people who like a straightforward name. Short names are less likely to be misspelled or nicknamed as well.

JONE is my favorite short J name for boys. It is unique and unisex, making it feel fresh and fashionable.

59. JUAN

Meaning: God is gracious
Origin: Hebrew; Spanish

60. JACE

Meaning: God is salvation
Origin: Hebrew

61. JAKE

Meaning: supplanter
Origin: Hebrew

62. JASE

Meaning: healer
Origin: Greek

63. JAX

Meaning: God is gracious
Origin: Constructed name

64. JAY

Meaning: jaybird
Origin: Latin

65. JAYCE

Meaning: healer
Origin: Greek

66. JOE

Meaning: God will increase
Origin: Hebrew; English

67. JONE

Meaning: God is gracious
Origin: Hebrew

68. JAIR

Meaning: he shines
Origin: Hebrew

Gender neutral J names

Last on the list we have unisex names that start with J. Nonbinary names like these give your child flexibility to self identify in the future. Not only that, but unisex names are ultra fashionable today.

One of the more classic unisex J names is JORDAN. If that’s your style, also expore my list ofgreat Jordan middle names.

69. JAMIE

Meaning: supplanter
Origin: Hebrew; Scottish

70. JEAN

Meaning: God is gracious
Origin: Latin; French

71. JERRY

Meaning: spear, God exalts
Origin: English; Hebrew

72. JESSE

Meaning: God’s gift
Origin: Hebrew

73. JOEY

Meaning: God will increase
Origin: Hebrew; English

74. JORDAN

Meaning: descend
Origin: Hebrew

75. JOSS

Meaning: one of Goths
Origin: English; German

76. JOYCE

Meaning: merry
Origin: Latin

77. JUDE

Meaning: praised
Origin: Hebrew; Latin

78. JULES

Meaning: youthful
Origin: Latin

79. JUNIPER

Meaning: juniperberry, evergreen; young
Origin: Latin

Looking for more J-name ideas? You may also like this list ofJ names for girls.