85 Unique Baby Boy Names That Start With J
Finding unique baby boy names that start with J is no easy task, but whether you like modern, classic or biblical J boy names, there's something for everyone.
Is choosing a baby name on your to-do list? Take your time. Choosing a name for a brand-new human is a big deal, and with over 5,000 first names in use in the U.S. alone, it’s not that easy. Luckily, humans take nine months to bake, so you’ve got time.
We’ve narrowed it down to only baby boy names that start with J. Pro tip? Instead of worrying so much about what a name means, choose a name you love the sound of. Because you’ll be yelling it across the playground for the next decade.
Ja
Origin: African
Short and sweet, the name Ja is easy to say, easy to remember and has a powerful meaning: Magnetic.
Who wouldn’t be drawn to kid with such a rare (and cool) name?
Jabari
Origin: Arabic
The name Jabari is actually a Swahili word that means “brave one.” The word is derived from the Arabic “jabbar,” meaning powerful ruler.
If you want an ultra-powerful baby boy name, this is a good one. Baby Jabari is totally destined for greatness.
Jabba
Origin: African
Jabba is actually the name of a river between Somalia and Ethiopia. It’s also the word for frock, or a long robe with sleeves.
Jabba the Hutt from “Star Wars” is probably the first Jabba that comes to mind, but there’s also an Australian radio host and actor named Jabba.
Jace
Origin: English
Jace is a shortened form of the baby boy name Jason. Jason actually has Greek roots, meaning “healer.” In Greek mythology, Jason was the leader of the Argonauts, and also pops up in the New Testament.
Regardless of the name’s origins, Jace is a cute name and a fun spin on a classic.
Jacoby
Origin: Hebrew
The name Jacob is centuries old. It was used by many cultures, so it’s hard to say exactly where it originated. Many believe it’s derived from the name “Ya’aqov’el,” meaning “may God protect.”
Jacobi means “son of Jacob.” Shorten this baby boy name into “Jack” or “Cobi” and you have some easy, built-in nicknames.
Jad
Origin: Arabic
Things are getting serious, because that’s literally what this baby boy name means.
Jad is a common Lebanese baby boy name, and it’s a good choice for parents who hope to raise a self-motivated student or businessman.
Jaden
Origin: English
Jaden was invented recently, first becoming a popular baby boy name in the 1990s.
It’s actually a unisex name, so if you’re surprised with a baby girl, you can still use it.
Jagger
Origin: Modern
Jagger comes from a surname meaning “peddler.” Not the most thrilling, but we all know why the name really became popular.
Mick Jagger is one of the greatest rock stars ever, and this baby boy name sounds just as hardcore as he was.
Jago
Origin: Hebrew
Jago is a Cornish version of the more common baby boy name James or Jacob. As such, it has biblical roots, but with a much more modern sound.
Jairo
Origin: Spanish
You’re trying to choose a name for the light of your life, so why not pick a unique baby boy name that means “he shines”?
That’s exactly what the Spanish name Jairo means, and the name itself is beautiful, too.
Jameson
Origin: British
Jameson, unsurprisingly, means son of James. And James means “supplanter.”
So Jameson is a good baby boy name for a little one who’s destined to take over the world.
In a good way, of course.
Jamir
Origin: Arabic
Jamir is a new baby boy name mashup, a combination of Jamal and Amir.
Jamal means beauty, and Amir means prince, so put them together and you have yourself a handsome prince.
Janus
Origin: Latin
Janus sounds like a name out of an old myth, and that’s because it is.
Janus was known by the ancient Romans as the god of beginnings and gateways. He’s usually shown with two faces, representing the beginning and end of conflict.
What could be a more momentous beginning than the beginning of a new life?
Jasiah
Origin: Hebrew
Jasiah is a biblical baby boy name meaning “God will save.” It doesn’t have to be taken literally, though.
The name Jasiah can symbolize protection and good health, even if you’re not religious.
Jasper
Origin: English
Jasper is the name of a reddish, semi-precious stone. The strong baby boy name has an earthy feel, but you can also put a musical spin on it with the nickname “Jazz.”
Javert
Origin: Literary/French
The name Javert was most likely invented by Victor Hugo, the author of “Les Miserables.” Based on the text, Javert, the play’s most prominent antagonist, was from northern Spain. It follows that the name is probably a spin-off of the name Javier, a Spanish saint from the 16th century.
While his character’s story is conflicted and tragic (in Les Mis, whose isn’t?), Javert was a strong character who always tried to do what he believed was right.
If you like the name, that’s not a terrible legacy for it to have.
Javan
Origin: Hebrew
In the Bible, Javan was one of the sons of Noah. He was also believed to be an ancestor of the Greeks, and a guardian of the country as a whole.
It’s a very uncommon baby boy name so you’re not likely to find it on any keychains. That said, it’s way better to have a unique name at school than to be one of five Jacks in kindergarten.
Jax
Origin: Modern
Jax is really an American baby boy name. That’s how names work. We’re always making up new ones.
Jax is derived from the name John and Jacques, and it retains their original biblical meaning: God has been gracious.
Jaylen
Origin: Hebrew
This baby boy name is a melodic-sounding variant of the name Jadon, meaning “thankful.”
It can easily be shortened to Jay for a sweet nickname.
Jean-Luc
Origin: Hebrew, Greek and French
Jean comes from the Hebrew word meaning “God is gracious.” Luc is likely a reference to a region in Italy, like the Italian baby boy name Luca.
Jean-Luc is a fairly common name in France, but it’s much rarer than it used to be. In the States, it’s virtually unheard of.
Jem
Origin: Hebrew
Jem is most often used as a nickname for longer names, like James or Jeremy. The Hebrew roots of the name mean “he who supplants.” A supplanter is someone who takes over, and not necessarily in a bad way. If you’d like to raise a son who likes to take charge and effect change, Jem is a good choice.
The most well-known Jem is the character Jem Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” who’s known for being brave, adventurous, noble and protective of his younger sister.
Jensen
Origin: Danish
Jensen, also spelled “Jenson,” is a Danish name.
It’s actually one of the most common last names in Denmark, but it has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Jesse
Origin: Hebrew
The biblical name Jesse simply means “the Lord exists.” In the Bible, Jesse was also the name of King David’s father.
Today, the most famous Jesse is Jesse Owens, the renowned Olympic runner who set three world records in less than an hour.
Jett
Origin: Modern
Modern baby boy names are just as intriguing as older ones. Jett was inspired by the “jet black” mineral formed by wood under extreme pressure.
Some believe gems like this have unique properties, including purifying the body and reducing negative energy.
Jin
Jin was the name of the son of the famous Chinese emperor Huang Di. It’s an old name, the Chinese character for Jin also translates to “gold.”
It can also mean “bright,” to remind little ones that they make the world so much brighter just by being in it.
Jiro
Origin: Japanese
The Japanese name Jiro means “second son,” but it sounds cool enough to use for any baby boy.
It was most popular in the early 1900s, and we think it deserves a revival.
Joaquin
Origin: Joaquin
Joaquin is a Spanish baby name that’s currently popular in South America. It means “God will judge.”
Sounds a little harsh, but it’s not. When you think about it, it’s a message about tolerance and non-judgment.
Nice.
Jonah
Origin: Hebrew
Jonah is a common biblical name, but this ancient baby boy name has a beautiful meaning: dove.
Doves have long symbolized peace and being pure of heart.
Jovanni
Origin: Hebrew and Italian
The Italian baby boy name Jovanni is a variant of Giovanni. It means “God is gracious.”
It’s a very popular name in Italy, and some families shorten it to the nickname “Gio” or “Vanni.”
Joziah
Origin: Hebrew
This popular biblical baby boy name means “Jehovah has healed.”
The biblical character Joziah became king when he was only 8 and ruled for 31 years. Maybe your Joziah will become an epic ruler, too.
Jude
Origin: Latin
Jude is a baby boy name with Greek roots meaning “praised.”
The name Jude has risen in popularity in recent years, probably because of the glorious performances of Jude Law.
If you choose this name, make sure to bring a Bluetooth speaker and blast “Hey Jude” throughout the maternity ward.
Jadiel
Origin: Hebrew and Spanish
The exact origins of Jadiel are a little hazy, but some believe it’s a Spanish spin on the Hebrew word “Yehudiel,” which means “the Lord has heard.”
Jadiel just a crazy cool sounding baby boy name. It’s still uncommon in the U.S., so baby Jadiel won’t have to go by “Jadiel B.” at school to set himself apart.
For a nickname, Jadi is short, sweet and has plenty of personality.
Jaime
Origin: Spanish
Jamie is a Spanish and Portuguese J name, and a shortened version of James. It means “supplanter,” so baby Jamies might be destined to walk into the world ready to take over. No pressure.
In practice, people are more likely to recognize the name from the steamy historical fiction drama “Outlander.” Because really, who could forget Jaime Fraser?
Whatever the inspiration, Jaime is a timeless name that rolls right off the tongue.
Jalaal
Origin: Arabic
Jalaal is the coolest baby boy name you’ve probably never heard of. It’s a name that glows, both in uniqueness and meaning.
In Muslim culture, Jalaal means grandeur and glory. So far, the name Jalaal isn’t even a blip on the U.S. baby name radar.
Jaron
Origin: Hebrew and Egyptian
Names, like all other words, evolve over time. This baby name starting with J began from the Hebrew name Yaron. In Egypt, that transformed to Aaron, and later to Jaron.
In Egyptian, Jaron means “warrior,” and its Hebrew roots are just as powerful. Yaron means “full of joy and song.”
Love it.
Jarrett
Origin: Germanic
This sweet baby boy name comes from Garrett. Garrett is an Irish version of the name Gerard, which means “courageous” and “spear.” Just keep an eye on baby Jarrett when he’s pretending to sword fight, because he might be brave enough to accidentally take out someone’s eye.
Assuming he avoids accidental stabbing incidents, there are quite a few famous Jarretts to look up to. Jarrett Payton and Jarrett Brown are both football players, and Jarrett Jack is a basketball player.
Maybe it’s a lucky name for future athletes.
Java
Origin: Arabic
Java is an English version of the Indonesian word Jawa, meaning beautiful island. In modern times, it’s become a nickname for one of the world’s most popular beverages: coffee.
If that’s not cool enough, it’s also a commonly used computer programming language. STEM is all the rage right now, so baby Java will be ahead of the curve.
Jay
Origin: Latin
The name Jay has been around for centuries. The name came from the jaybird, and it was a common surname. After founding father John Jay came around, people started using it as a first name.
This J baby name ranked in the top 100 names throughout the 1960s. Today, longer variants like Jayden and Jayce are more common.
Fun fact: Jay is also a multicultural name. In India, it’s used as a variation of the Hindi name Jaya, meaning “victory.” This name is a win for sure.
Jeb
Origin: Hebrew
Your feelings about Jeb Bush will probably come into play here, but before Jeb Bush came around, the name Jeb had history.
Coming from the Hebrew name Jebediah, Jeb means “dear friend.” It was a standard of early Western movies and television shows, and was used more recently as the president’s nickname on “The West Wing.“
It’s currently ranked No. 989 in U.S. births, so Jeb will probably struggle to find his name on a keychain. Those things are usually tacky, anyway.
Jedi
Origin: Hebrew or Star Wars, depending on who you ask
Jedi is a variation of the Hebrew name Jedaiah, but let’s be real. It’s going to remind everyone of “Star Wars,” and that’s nothing to complain about. If you haven’t watched “Star Wars,” the Jedi Knights were guardians of justice in the series.
Their appeal was so so great that the word Jedi has its own definition in the dictionary. It means someone who has a remarkable power of positivity and luck, as if they have influence over the universe itself.
Only 213 Jedi babies have been born since 1880, making this one of the rarest names starting with J on this list.
Jefferson
Origin: Germanic
Jefferson, quite literally, means “son of Jeffrey.” The name Jeffrey was originally spelled “Geoffrey,” and before that it was most likely “Godfrey.” The name Godfrey means “good” and “peace,” and it’s commonly translated as “peaceful ruler.”
The name Jefferson didn’t become popular until Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Regardless of the name’s roots, baby Jeffersons are clearly in good company. Just make sure they have supervision while experimenting with electricity.
Jenner
Origin: Latin and German
Jenner originally came from the Latin word “Januarius” and the German word for January. It may have been used as a surname for people who converted to Christianity during the month of January, or for those whose taxes were due each January. It later came to mean “engineer.”
It’s probably best known today as the surname of Caitlyn Jenner and others in the Kardashian clan, but today, it’s also a unique name for babies born in January.
Jennings
Origin: Dutch
Jennings was a popular name back in the 1800s, and it’s just now beginning to resurface. This baby boy name has Flemish origins, and it’s actually a variation of “John.”
John, meaning “grace of God,” was frequently used by men of noble birth. It’s still a common name, but if you’re looking for something more unique, Jennings is a perfect alternative with the same meaning and a more modern sound.
Jermaine
Origin: Latin
Jermaine is a little bit Latin, a little bit French and a whole lot of cute. It comes from the French name Germain, which means brother.
It’s a popular choice for second-born baby boys, and it was one of the top 200 most popular boy names during the 1960s and 1970s, including record producer and rapper Jermaine Dupris.
Jerome
Origin: Latin
From the Greek name Hieronymos, Jerome means “Holy Name.” Needless to say, the name is not new. It first became popular during the fifth century after Saint Jerome made a Latin translation of the bible. Babies were named after him throughout the Middle Ages.
Throughout history, there have been many famous Jeromes, like the prolific 20th century composer Jerome Kern, and Jerome Robbins, an Academy Award-winning choreographer.
Jerrick
Origin: American
It’s like Derek, but better. Jerrick is an invented American spinoff of the German named Derek, which means “gifted ruler.”
This particular J name is a blend of Jerold and Derek, and it’s still an uncommon name in the U.S. If it’s still too close to the more common Derek for your taste, Jerrin is a fun alternative.
Jesper
Origin: Persian
This J baby boy name is closely related to Jasper, except with ancient Persian roots meaning “treasurer.”
If there’s not an accountant somewhere named Jesper, there should be. Other similar names are Jespa and the Spanish-sounding Gasparo.
Fun fact: The animated character Jiminy Cricket is named Jesper.
Jetson
Origin: English
Jetson was originally a surname, most likely descended from the more common Judson. It became a popular American name following the launch of the futuristic cartoon show “The Jetsons” in the 1960s.
Today, parents often opt to shorten the name Jetson to Jet, which is arguably the best nickname on the playground.
Jimi
Origin: Hebrew
The first person that comes to mind when you hear the name Jimi is undoubtedly Jimi Hendrix. He was, after all, one of the most influential guitarists in history. He may have reinvented rock and roll, but he didn’t invent his name.
The name Jimi comes from the Hebrew name Jacob. Jacob and the related “James” became popular English names before it was reiterated as the shorter, and cooler, Jimi.
Jobi
Origin: Hebrew
This baby boy name has decidedly biblical roots. It comes from the Hebrew name “Job,” pronounced “johb.” There’s an entire book of Job in the Christian bible, and his character was described as upright and patient, even when under trial.
It’s a little heavy, but the name Jobi feels much sunnier than the name it evolved from.
Joel
Origin: Hebrew
The name Joel is an oldie but goodie. Yet another Hebrew name starting with J, Joel originally meant “Jehovah is the Lord.” According to Christian writings, Joel was a prophet and the writer of the Book of Joel.
Joel is a very popular name at the moment, ranked 332 out of all U.S. baby names. Fun fact: It’s also the surname of the musician who penned “The Piano Man,” Billy Joel.
Joffrey
Origin: Scottish and English
Joffrey is a variation of the English name Geoffrey.
Admittedly, the name Joffrey is usually associated with Joffrey Baratheon, the villainous son of Cersei and Jaime Lannister in “Game of Thrones.”
It may be a unique name, but we’d avoid it just because of its dark literary background.
Johnavan
Origin: American
You can probably see where we’re going with this one. Johnavan is an invented name; the combination of John and Avon. John means “God is gracious,” while Avon is a Welsh word for river. We’ll let you define Johnavan yourself.
It sounds pretty similar to the Irish name Donavan, which is much more common.
Jordan
Origin: Hebrew
Jordan is another beautiful baby boy name with Hebrew roots. Jordan means “to flow down,” which makes sense considering it’s the name of the 223 mile-long river in Asia.
It’s also the name of an entire country, and Michael Jordan, one of the biggest basketball stars of all time.
It’s currently ranked in the top 100 baby names. If that’s too common for your taste, try variations like Jordyn or Jorden.
Joss
Origin: English
The name Joss is a short version of Joshua. There are several similar names starting with J, like Josh, or Jocelyn for girls. Joss was once a popular name in England, meaning “the merry one.”
It first came to the states when American film director Joss Whedon became famous for creating “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” It’s usually considered a unisex name, so it’s a great option if you’re letting the baby’s gender remain a surprise.
Jotham
Origin: Hebrew
Jotham, rhyming with Gotham, is a Hebrew baby boy name that means “perfection of Jehovah.” All new babies are pretty perfect, so the name fits.
Jotham was the name of a king in the Bible, but you don’t have to be religious to appreciate this unusual name. It’s very rare in the U.S., and it has buckets of cool nickname potential.
Jules
Origin: Latin, Greek, French and German
Jules is often used as a nickname for Julian, but it’s a cute baby boy name all on its own. It comes from the Latin Julianus, which has roots meaning “sky” and “father.” It has also become synonymous with “youthful.”
The most famous Jules is Jules Verne, the sci-fi writer best known for writing “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.”
Julian
Origin: Latin
Julian is one of the most popular boy names of the last century. It has Latin roots meaning “youthful.” Strangely, it also has Greek roots meaning “downy-bearded”.
So a youthful Santa? Maybe the inventor of the name meant to describe someone who retains childlike wonder and lush facial hair for all of their days?
The verdict is out, but no one seems to care what exactly it means. It ranks number 31 in popularity today, and it has stayed in the top 100 since 2000.
Juni
Origin: Scandinavian, Finnish and Swedish
Unsurprisingly, the name Juni simply means “June.” This cute-sounding unisex baby name is an adorable choice for babies born in June.
It can be shortened to just “J” for a more grown-up nickname.
Jupiter
Origin: Latin
Being named after a Roman god won’t make your kid an instant success, but it can’t hurt.
Jupiter was the name of the supreme god of the sky in Roman mythology. He was the equivalent of the more well-known Greek god Zeus.
The name also means “bringer of light.” What a meaningful message to bestow upon your new addition.
Other J Boy Names
eclipse_images / Getty Images
If you’re still looking for more baby boy names that start with J, here are 25 more to consider.
- Jair
- Jakai
- Jamari
- Jamin
- Jansen
- Jareth
- Javi
- Javon
- Jaylin
- Jaziel
- Jeffries
- Jens
- Jeth
- Jodi
- Jory
- Josue
- Journey
- Jovanny
- Joyce
- Judd
- Judge
- Judson
- Juneau
- Junior
- Justice