Last Updated on June 5, 2020

Choosing the right name for your baby is never easy. And no matter how many babies you have, it certainly doesn’t get easier each time. You might think that experience as a parent also equates to making these kinds of decisions easier. Unfortunately, that’s not usually the case.

Picking the right name is a big deal any way you look at it. And if you have your heart set on choosing a baby boy name starting with J, you have an even greater task ahead of you.

Not only do you have to make sure the name you give your new son is respectable and unique baby boy name in its own way, but now you also have to make sure it starts with the letter J. It’s understandable, though, why you might opt for a J name.

Maybe you have a running theme with the rest of your children or your family in general, and all of your names already begin with the letter J. Or, you want to pay homage to someone whose name begins with J, but you don’t quite want to commit to this person’s full name. Whatever your reason, choosing a baby name for your little guy just became a little more complicated.

Contents

1 How to Choose A Baby Name
2 Why We Love Baby Boy Names Starting With The Letter J
3 Jace
- 3.1 Meaning:
- 3.2 Origin:
- 3.3 Pronunciation:
- 3.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 3.5 Famous People Named Jace:
- 3.6 Jace Baby Name Trends:
- 3.7 Fun Facts about Jace:
4 Jack
- 4.1 Meaning:
- 4.2 Origin:
- 4.3 Pronunciation:
- 4.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 4.5 Famous People Named Jack:
- 4.6 Jack Baby Name Trends:
- 4.7 Fun Facts about Jack:
5 Jackson
- 5.1 Meaning:
- 5.2 Origin:
- 5.3 Pronunciation:
- 5.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 5.5 Famous People Named Jackson:
- 5.6 Jackson Baby Name Trends:
- 5.7 Fun Facts about Jackson:
6 Jacob
- 6.1 Meaning:
- 6.2 Origin:
- 6.3 Pronunciation:
- 6.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 6.5 Famous People Named Jacob:
- 6.6 Jacob Baby Name Trends:
- 6.7 Fun Facts about Jacob:
7 Jafar
- 7.1 Meaning:
- 7.2 Origin:
- 7.3 Pronunciation:
- 7.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 7.5 Famous People Named Jafar:
- 7.6 Jafar Baby Name Trends:
- 7.7 Fun Facts about Jafar:
8 Jagger
- 8.1 Meaning:
- 8.2 Origin:
- 8.3 Pronunciation:
- 8.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 8.5 Famous People Named Jagger:
- 8.6 Jagger Baby Name Trends:
- 8.7 Fun Facts about Jagger:
9 Jamar
- 9.1 Meaning:
- 9.2 Origin:
- 9.3 Pronunciation:
- 9.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 9.5 Famous People Named Jamar:
- 9.6 Jamar Baby Name Trends:
- 9.7 Fun Facts about Jamar:
10 James
- 10.1 Meaning:
- 10.2 Origin:
- 10.3 Pronunciation:
- 10.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 10.5 Famous People Named James:
- 10.6 James Baby Name Trends:
- 10.7 Fun Facts about James:
11 Jamie
- 11.1 Meaning:
- 11.2 Origin:
- 11.3 Pronunciation:
- 11.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 11.5 Famous People Named Jamie:
- 11.6 Jamie Baby Name Trends:
- 11.7 Fun Facts about Jamie:
12 Jamil
- 12.1 Meaning:
- 12.2 Origin:
- 12.3 Pronunciation:
- 12.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 12.5 Famous People Named Jamil:
- 12.6 Jamil Baby Name Trends:
- 12.7 Fun Facts about Jamil:
13 Jarvis
- 13.1 Meaning:
- 13.2 Origin:
- 13.3 Pronunciation:
- 13.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 13.5 Famous People Named Jarvis:
- 13.6 Jarvis Baby Name Trends:
- 13.7 Fun Facts about Jarvis:
14 Jason
- 14.1 Meaning:
- 14.2 Origin:
- 14.3 Pronunciation:
- 14.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 14.5 Famous People Named Jason:
- 14.6 Jason Baby Name Trends:
- 14.7 Fun Facts about Jason:
15 Jasper
- 15.1 Meaning:
- 15.2 Origin:
- 15.3 Pronunciation:
- 15.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 15.5 Famous People Named Jasper:
- 15.6 Jasper Baby Name Trends:
- 15.7 Fun Facts about Jasper:
16 Javier
- 16.1 Meaning:
- 16.2 Origin:
- 16.3 Pronunciation:
- 16.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 16.5 Famous People Named Javier:
- 16.6 Javier Baby Name Trends:
- 16.7 Fun Facts about Javier:
17 Jay
- 17.1 Meaning:
- 17.2 Origin:
- 17.3 Pronunciation:
- 17.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 17.5 Famous People Named Jay:
- 17.6 Jay Baby Name Trends:
- 17.7 Fun Facts about Jay:
18 Jayden
- 18.1 Meaning:
- 18.2 Origin:
- 18.3 Pronunciation:
- 18.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 18.5 Famous People Named Jayden:
- 18.6 Jayden Baby Name Trends:
- 18.7 Fun Facts about Jayden:
19 Jean
- 19.1 Meaning:
- 19.2 Origin:
- 19.3 Pronunciation:
- 19.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 19.5 Famous People Named Jean:
- 19.6 Jean-Paul Baby Name Trends:
- 19.7 Fun Facts about Jean:
20 Jebediah
- 20.1 Meaning:
- 20.2 Origin:
- 20.3 Pronunciation:
- 20.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 20.5 Famous People Named Jebediah:
- 20.6 Jebediah Baby Name Trends:
- 20.7 Fun Facts about Jebediah:
21 Jedediah
- 21.1 Meaning:
- 21.2 Origin:
- 21.3 Pronunciation:
- 21.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 21.5 Famous People Named Jedediah:
- 21.6 Jedediah Baby Name Trends:
- 21.7 Fun Facts about Jedediah:
22 Jefferson
- 22.1 Meaning:
- 22.2 Origin:
- 22.3 Pronunciation:
- 22.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 22.5 Famous People Named Jefferson:
- 22.6 Jefferson Baby Name Trends:
- 22.7 Fun Facts about Jefferson:
23 Jeffrey
- 23.1 Meaning:
- 23.2 Origin:
- 23.3 Pronunciation:
- 23.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 23.5 Famous People Named Jeffrey:
- 23.6 Jeffrey Baby Name Trends:
- 23.7 Fun Facts about Jeffrey:
24 Jeremiah
- 24.1 Meaning:
- 24.2 Origin:
- 24.3 Pronunciation:
- 24.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 24.5 Famous People Named Jeremiah:
- 24.6 Jeremiah Baby Name Trends:
- 24.7 Fun Facts about Jeremiah:
25 Jeremy
- 25.1 Meaning:
- 25.2 Origin:
- 25.3 Pronunciation:
- 25.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 25.5 Famous People Named Jeremy:
- 25.6 Jeremy Baby Name Trends:
- 25.7 Fun Facts about Jeremy:
26 Jericho
- 26.1 Meaning:
- 26.2 Origin:
- 26.3 Pronunciation:
- 26.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 26.5 Famous People Named Jericho:
- 26.6 Jericho Baby Name Trends:
- 26.7 Fun Facts about Jericho:
27 Jermaine
- 27.1 Meaning:
- 27.2 Origin:
- 27.3 Pronunciation:
- 27.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 27.5 Famous People Named Jermaine:
- 27.6 Jermaine Baby Name Trends:
- 27.7 Fun Facts about Jermaine:
28 Jerome
- 28.1 Meaning:
- 28.2 Origin:
- 28.3 Pronunciation:
- 28.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 28.5 Famous People Named Jerome:
- 28.6 Jerome Baby Name Trends:
- 28.7 Fun Facts about Jerome:
29 Jesiah
- 29.1 Meaning:
- 29.2 Origin:
- 29.3 Pronunciation:
- 29.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 29.5 Famous People Named Jesiah:
- 29.6 Jessiah Baby Name Trends:
- 29.7 Fun Facts about Jesiah:
30 Jesus
- 30.1 Meaning:
- 30.2 Origin:
- 30.3 Pronunciation:
- 30.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 30.5 Famous People Named Jesus:
- 30.6 Jesus Baby Name Trends:
- 30.7 Fun Facts about Jesus:
31 Jet
- 31.1 Meaning:
- 31.2 Origin:
- 31.3 Pronunciation:
- 31.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 31.5 Famous People Named Jet:
- 31.6 Jet Baby Name Trends:
- 31.7 Fun Facts about Jet:
32 Jeter
- 32.1 Meaning:
- 32.2 Origin:
- 32.3 Pronunciation:
- 32.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 32.5 Famous People Named Jeter:
- 32.6 Jeter Baby Name Trends:
- 32.7 Fun Facts about Jeter:
33 Jethro
- 33.1 Meaning:
- 33.2 Origin:
- 33.3 Pronunciation:
- 33.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 33.5 Famous People Named Jethro:
- 33.6 Jethro Baby Name Trends:
- 33.7 Fun Facts about Jethro:
34 Ji-hoon
- 34.1 Meaning:
- 34.2 Origin:
- 34.3 Pronunciation:
- 34.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 34.5 Famous People Named Ji-hoon:
- 34.6 Ji-hoon Baby Name Trends:
- 34.7 Fun Facts about Ji-hoon:
35 Jim
- 35.1 Meaning:
- 35.2 Origin:
- 35.3 Pronunciation:
- 35.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 35.5 Famous People Named Jim:
- 35.6 Jim Baby Name Trends:
- 35.7 Fun Facts about Jim:
36 Joaquin
- 36.1 Meaning:
- 36.2 Origin:
- 36.3 Pronunciation:
- 36.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 36.5 Famous People Named Joaquin:
- 36.6 Joaquin Baby Name Trends:
- 36.7 Fun Facts about Joaquin:
37 Joel
- 37.1 Meaning:
- 37.2 Origin:
- 37.3 Pronunciation:
- 37.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 37.5 Famous People Named Joel:
- 37.6 Joel Baby Name Trends:
- 37.7 Fun Facts about Joel:
38 Jonathan
- 38.1 Meaning:
- 38.2 Origin:
- 38.3 Pronunciation:
- 38.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 38.5 Famous People Named Jonathan:
- 38.6 Jonathan Baby Name Trends:
- 38.7 Fun Facts about Jonathan:
39 Jonas
- 39.1 Meaning:
- 39.2 Origin:
- 39.3 Pronunciation:
- 39.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 39.5 Famous People Named Jonas:
- 39.6 Jonas Baby Name Trends:
- 39.7 Fun Facts about Jonas:
40 Jorah
- 40.1 Meaning:
- 40.2 Origin:
- 40.3 Pronunciation:
- 40.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 40.5 Famous People Named Jorah:
- 40.6 Jorah Baby Name Trends:
- 40.7 Fun Facts about Jorah:
41 Jordan
- 41.1 Meaning:
- 41.2 Origin:
- 41.3 Pronunciation:
- 41.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 41.5 Famous People Named Jordan:
- 41.6 Jordan Baby Name Trends:
- 41.7 Fun Facts about Jordan:
42 Jorge
- 42.1 Meaning:
- 42.2 Origin:
- 42.3 Pronunciation:
- 42.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 42.5 Famous People Named Jorge:
- 42.6 Jorge Baby Name Trends:
- 42.7 Fun Facts about Jorge:
43 Jory
- 43.1 Meaning:
- 43.2 Origin:
- 43.3 Pronunciation:
- 43.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 43.5 Famous People Named Jory:
- 43.6 Jory Baby Name Trends:
- 43.7 Fun Facts about Jory:
44 Jose
- 44.1 Meaning:
- 44.2 Origin:
- 44.3 Pronunciation:
- 44.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 44.5 Famous People Named Jose:
- 44.6 Jose Baby Name Trends:
- 44.7 Fun Facts about Jose:
45 Joseph
- 45.1 Meaning:
- 45.2 Origin:
- 45.3 Pronunciation:
- 45.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 45.5 Famous People Named Joseph:
- 45.6 Joseph Baby Name Trends:
- 45.7 Fun Facts about Joseph:
46 Joshua
- 46.1 Meaning:
- 46.2 Origin:
- 46.3 Pronunciation:
- 46.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 46.5 Famous People Named Joshua:
- 46.6 Joshua Baby Name Trends:
- 46.7 Fun Facts about Joshua:
47 Juan
- 47.1 Meaning:
- 47.2 Origin:
- 47.3 Pronunciation:
- 47.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 47.5 Famous People Named Juan:
- 47.6 Juan Baby Name Trends:
- 47.7 Fun Facts about Juan:
48 Judd
- 48.1 Meaning:
- 48.2 Origin:
- 48.3 Pronunciation:
- 48.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 48.5 Famous People Named Judd:
- 48.6 Judd Baby Name Trends:
- 48.7 Fun Facts about Judd:
49 Judge
- 49.1 Meaning:
- 49.2 Origin:
- 49.3 Pronunciation:
- 49.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 49.5 Famous People Named Judge:
- 49.6 Judge Baby Name Trends:
- 49.7 Fun Facts about Judge:
50 Judson
- 50.1 Meaning:
- 50.2 Origin:
- 50.3 Pronunciation:
- 50.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 50.5 Famous People Named Judson:
- 50.6 Judson Baby Name Trends:
- 50.7 Fun Facts about Judson:
51 Julius
- 51.1 Meaning:
- 51.2 Origin:
- 51.3 Pronunciation:
- 51.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 51.5 Famous People Named Julius:
- 51.6 Julius Baby Name Trends:
- 51.7 Fun Facts about Julius:
52 Justice
- 52.1 Meaning:
- 52.2 Origin:
- 52.3 Pronunciation:
- 52.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 52.5 Famous People Named Justice:
- 52.6 Justice Baby Name Trends:
- 52.7 Fun Facts about Justice:
53 Justin
- 53.1 Meaning:
- 53.2 Origin:
- 53.3 Pronunciation:
- 53.4 Alternatives and Variations:
- 53.5 Famous People Named Justin:
- 53.6 Justin Baby Name Trends:
- 53.7 Fun Facts about Justin:
54 Final Thoughts On Baby Boy Names Starting With J
- 54.1 Recommended Reads:

How to Choose A Baby Name

It all comes down to what you are looking for as a parent when you are trying to pick a baby name. Some parents are simply looking for a unique name that will turn heads and illicit all kinds of compliments when they introduce their little one. Other parents might be looking for a unique spin on a more traditional name. Then, there is the idea of naming your child after someone in your family or after one of his parents. Clearly, a lot goes into choosing a baby name.

And while it might seem like opting for a baby boy name starting with J might make things a little easier, the truth is, it could make things a little trickier. Suddenly, you are faced with more questions about which J name works best for your little guy. But for some, it’s hard to deny the pull of these names.

Why We Love Baby Boy Names Starting With The Letter J

The reasons behind why you love baby boy names starting with the letter J can vary from person to person. But for some, it goes back to the Bible. Because as easy as it is to find J names that have nothing to do with religion, there are tons of J names that pop up in the Bible and have inspired parents for decades to name their sons after these J-named figures.

Some J boy names are also just easier to shorten for nicknames. Some families thrive on giving kids nicknames to make things easier or even more personal. Little boys whose names start with the letter J can often get away with the name Jay as a nickname, regardless of the other letters in their name. Or take the names, Jackson and Jedediah, for example.

Both are J names and one can be transformed into Jax, while the other can be shortened to Jed. While the same can be said for some other names, it just seems a lot easier to find appropriate nicknames for baby boy names starting with the letter J.

Regardless of why you love J names or why you have opted to go with a J name for your soon-to-be bundle of joy, these are easily some of the most amazing baby boy names starting with J for you to choose from.

Jace

Meaning:

The Lord is salvation

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Jay-ss

Alternatives and Variations:

Jason

Famous People Named Jace:

NFL player Jace Amaro, YouTuber Jace Rogers

Jace Baby Name Trends:

In 2018, the name Jace ranked nationally at number 90 in popularity.

Fun Facts about Jace:

If you don’t mind your baby’s name being featured on reality shows like Teen Mom OG and Duck Dynasty, then Jace is sort of the perfect baby name for you.

Jack

Meaning:

God is gracious

Origin:

English

Pronunciation:

Jak

Alternatives and Variations:

Jackie, Jax, Jackson

Famous People Named Jack:

Actor Jack Nicholson, actor/singer Jack Black, fictional This Is Us character Jack Pearson

Jack Baby Name Trends:

Possibly because of the main character on This Is Us, the name Jack rose in popularity in 2018 to number 28.

Fun Facts about Jack:

Oddly enough, many people consider the name Jack to be a variation of John.

Jackson

Meaning:

Son of Jack

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Jak-sen

Alternatives and Variations:

Jaxson, Jax, Jack

Famous People Named Jackson:

Former President Andrew Jackson, artist Jackson Pollock

Jackson Baby Name Trends:

In 2019, the name Jackson was ranked at number 19 nationally.

Fun Facts about Jackson:

The name Jackson remained steadily unpopular until 1995 when it suddenly began to climb in popularity and hasn’t quite stopped.

Jacob

Meaning:

Seizing by the heel

Origin:

Latin

Pronunciation:

Jay-kob

Alternatives and Variations:

Jake, Yakob, Jakob

Famous People Named Jacob:

Former NFL player Jacob Green, actor Jacob Tremblay

Jacob Baby Name Trends:

Until 2012, Jacob was actually the most popular name for boys in the U.S.

Fun Facts about Jacob:

The name Jacob was likely given a boost in popularity thanks to the Twilight franchise and the fictional werewolf character named Jacob Black.

Jafar

Meaning:

Stream

Origin:

Arabic

Pronunciation:

Jah-far

Alternatives and Variations:

Ja’far, Jaffar

Famous People Named Jafar:

King of Persia Jafar Khan Zand, Iranian poet Jafar Ebrahimi

Jafar Baby Name Trends:

Because of how unique the name Jafar is, it hasn’t made it to the top 100 or even 500 names in the past several decades.

Fun Facts about Jafar:

Unfortunately, the name Jafar is probably most commonly associated with the bad guy in Aladdin.

Jagger

Meaning:

Carter

Origin:

English

Pronunciation:

Ja-grr

Alternatives and Variations:

Jager, Jag

Famous People Named Jagger:

Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger

Jagger Baby Name Trends:

In 2018, the name Jagger just barely made it over the top 700 names nationally.

Fun Facts about Jagger:

The name is almost always associated with a bit of an edge, so expect to see plenty of “cool” parents opting for the boy name Jagger.

Jamar

Meaning:

Beauty

Origin:

Arabic

Pronunciation:

Jah-mar

Alternatives and Variations:

Jamal

Famous People Named Jamar:

Professional wrestler Jamar Shipman

Jamar Baby Name Trends:

The name Jamar has never made it past the ranking of 362 out of 1,000.

Fun Facts about Jamar:

The name is thought to be a combination between the Arabic name Jamal and the French name Lamar.

James

Meaning:

Supplanter

Origin:

English

Pronunciation:

Jay-ms

Alternatives and Variations:

Jamie, Jim, Jimbo

Famous People Named James:

Actor James Franco, James Dean

James Baby Name Trends:

It is one of the more classically popular names and came in at number four in 2018.

Fun Facts about James:

James is easily one of those popular names that have a handful of fun nicknames to choose from.

Jamie

Meaning:

Supplanter

Origin:

English

Pronunciation:

Jay-mee

Alternatives and Variations:

Jaime, Jaimie

Famous People Named Jamie:

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, fictional Game of Thrones character Jaime Lannister

Jamie Baby Name Trends:

It barely rose above 600 in the top baby names in 2018.

Fun Facts about Jamie:

Some consider Jamie to be the clearest variation out there of the name James.

Jamil

Meaning:

Beautiful, handsome

Origin:

Arabic

Pronunciation:

Jah-mill

Alternatives and Variations:

Jamal, Jameel

Famous People Named Jamil:

NFL player Jamil Demby, actor Jamil Walker Smith

Jamil Baby Name Trends:

The name Jamil peaked in popularity in the 90s, but has remained mostly stagnant since then.

Fun Facts about Jamil:

The feminine version of Jamila is Jamila, which also means beautiful.

Jarvis

Meaning:

Unknown

Origin:

German

Pronunciation:

Jahr-vis

Alternatives and Variations:

Gervase

Famous People Named Jarvis:

Former NBA player Jarvis Hayes, the fictional Iron Man character Jarvis

Jarvis Baby Name Trends:

The name Jarvis peaked in popularity in the 80s.

Fun Facts about Jarvis:

It is the English variation of the name Gervase.

Jason

Meaning:

To Heal

Origin:

Greek

Pronunciation:

Jay-sen

Alternatives and Variations:

Jay, Jace, Jacin

Famous People Named Jason:

Actor Jason Drucker, former NBA player Jason Kidd

Jason Baby Name Trends:

It ranked in at number 100 in 2018.

Fun Facts about Jason:

Surprisingly, the name Jason originated in Greek Mythology when Jason, a Thessalian hero, led his people in a search for the Golden Fleece.

Jasper

Meaning:

Bringer of treasure

Origin:

Persian

Pronunciation:

Jas-per

Alternatives and Variations:

Caspar, Gasparo, Jesper

Famous People Named Jasper:

Comedian Jasper Redd, novelist Jasper Fforde

Jasper Baby Name Trends:

The name Jasper has had a steady increase in popularity over the past 13 years.

Fun Facts about Jasper:

Some fell in love with the name Jasper when they heard it in the Twilight movies in reference to a vampire by that name.

Javier

Meaning:

New house

Origin:

Latin

Pronunciation:

Hah-vee-air

Alternatives and Variations:

Xavier, Xabier

Famous People Named Javier:

Actor Javier Bardem, Mexican soccer player Javier Hernández

Javier Baby Name Trends:

Although it ranked number 244 in 2018, the name Javier is one of the more popular Spanish baby boy names in the U.S.

Fun Facts about Javier:

Because it is a variation of Xavier, you can use either spelling to get the same meaning and pronunciation.

Jay

Meaning:

Jaybird

Origin:

Latin

Pronunciation:

Jay

Alternatives and Variations:

Jason, Jamie, Jaylin

Famous People Named Jay:

Actor Jay Hernandez, the fictional character Jay Gatsby

Jay Baby Name Trends:

It ranked 399 in 2018.

Fun Facts about Jay:

For some, Jay is also the perfect name for a baby girl, even though it might at first seem like a strictly masculine name.

Jayden

Meaning:

Thankful

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Jay-din

Alternatives and Variations:

Jadon, Jaden

Famous People Named Jayden:

Actor and singer Jaden Smith

Jayden Baby Name Trends:

In 2018, the name Jayden actually ranked as high as 30 nationally.

Fun Facts about Jayden:

Although the name Jayden is essentially the same as Jaden, the latter is the much more common spelling.

Jean

Meaning:

God is gracious

Origin:

French

Pronunciation:

Zhahn

Alternatives and Variations:

John, Juan, Jhon

Famous People Named Jean:

Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme

Jean-Paul Baby Name Trends:

Since it declined in popularity in 2011, it hasn’t been popular enough to make any top name lists in the U.S.

Fun Facts about Jean:

As a boy’s name, Jean is pronounced with more of a French inflection, whereas when it is used for girls, you would pronounce it in more of a straight-forward way, like “jean” jacket.

Jebediah

Meaning:

Beloved friend

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Jeb-ed-eye-ah

Alternatives and Variations:

Jeb, Jebadiah

Famous People Named Jebediah:

Politician Jeb Bardon, Jazz musician Jeb Bishop, alternative Australian band Jebediah

Jebediah Baby Name Trends:

There isn’t much clear data about the recent or current popularity of the name Jebediah.

Fun Facts about Jebediah:

A lot of people tend to mix up Jebediah and Jedediah, even though no one notable is actually named Jebediah in the Bible.

Jedediah

Meaning:

Beloved of the Lord

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Jed-ed-eye-ah

Alternatives and Variations:

Jed, Jededish

Famous People Named Jedediah:

Novelist Jedediah Berry, author, and television host Jedediah Bila

Jedediah Baby Name Trends:

After going down in popularity in 1985, the name Jedediah never really rose up in popularity again.

Fun Facts about Jedediah:

One nickname or alternative to this name is Jedi, so make sure your son has the Force if you go with that particular nickname.

Jefferson

Meaning:

Son of Jeffrey

Origin:

English

Pronunciation:

Jeh-fer-sun

Alternatives and Variations:

Jeffery, Jeffrey, Jeff

Famous People Named Jefferson:

Artist Jefferson Wood, former U.S. president Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson Baby Name Trends:

The name Jefferson has remained steadily in the top 1,000 U.S. names for the past several decades.

Fun Facts about Jefferson:

The name Jefferson is most commonly found as a surname rather than a first name.

Jeffrey

Meaning:

Pledge of peace

Origin:

English

Pronunciation:

Jeh-free

Alternatives and Variations:

Geoffrey, Jeff

Famous People Named Jeffrey:

Artist Jeffrey Steele, actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Jeffrey Baby Name Trends:

It has a sudden spike in popularity in 1936 and continued to rise until around 1973 when it dipped in popularity.

Fun Facts about Jeffrey:

Unfortunately, one of the most famous names associated with Jeffrey is of infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

Jeremiah

Meaning:

Appointed by God

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Jerr-eh-my-ah

Alternatives and Variations:

Jerry, Jeremy, Jer

Famous People Named Jeremiah:

Composer Jeremiah Clarke, NFL player Jeremiah Castille

Jeremiah Baby Name Trends:

In 2018, Jeremiah ranked 65 in the U.S. and has remained steadily popular.

Fun Facts about Jeremiah:

It’s a more gussied up version of the typical Jeremy name.

Jeremy

Meaning:

Exalted of the Lord

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Jer-eh-mee

Alternatives and Variations:

Jer, Jerry

Famous People Named Jeremy:

Actors Jeremy Piven and Jeremy Renner

Jeremy Baby Name Trends:

It topped at 204 nationally in 2018.

Fun Facts about Jeremy:

To some, Jeremy is simply another version of Jeremiah.

Jericho

Meaning:

City of the Moon

Origin:

Arabic

Pronunciation:

Jer-eh-ko

Alternatives and Variations:

Jer, Jerry, Geri

Famous People Named Jericho:

Professional wrestler Chris Jericho

Jericho Baby Name Trends:

Because the name Jericho is so unique, there isn’t much data to suggest how popular or unpopular it is overall.

Fun Facts about Jericho:

It can be used as a boy or girl’s name.

Jermaine

Meaning:

Brother

Origin:

Latin

Pronunciation:

Jer-mayn

Alternatives and Variations:

Germain, Germaine

Famous People Named Jermaine:

Member of the Jackson Five Jermaine Jackson

Jermaine Baby Name Trends:

It reached its peak popularity in 1973, but has been on a steady decline ever since.

Fun Facts about Jermaine:

Although one of the most famous people with the given name of Jermaine was a member of the Jackson Five, don’t be surprised if your little one isn’t a songbird right off the bat.

Jerome

Meaning:

Sacred name

Origin:

Greek

Pronunciation:

Jer-oh-m

Alternatives and Variations:

Jerom, Geronimo

Famous People Named Jerome:

Writer Jerome Bixby, NFL player Jerome Bettis

Jerome Baby Name Trends:

Between 1910 and 1960, the name Jerome saw steady popularity, but has since declined gradually.

Fun Facts about Jerome:

It’s also the name of the Christian Saint Jerome, so your kid will have a lot to live up to.

Jesiah

Meaning:

Man of Jah

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Jes-eye-ah

Alternatives and Variations:

Jessiah, Si, Isshiah

Famous People Named Jesiah:

Actor Jessiah Rueckert

Jessiah Baby Name Trends:

The name Jesiah has never quite made it higher than near the 1,000 marks in top U.S. names.

Fun Facts about Jesiah:

It’s such a unique and hard to come by name, that you will either be gifting your child with a special one of a kind name or depriving them of a chance to ever find a souvenir keychain with their name on it.

Jesus

Meaning:

The Lord is salvation

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Gee-ses or Hay-zoos

Alternatives and Variations:

Yeshua, Isa

Famous People Named Jesus:

The most obvious is probably the Christian son of God, Jesus Christ

Jesus Baby Name Trends:

In 2018, the name Jesus ranked in at number 148 on the top U.S. names.

Fun Facts about Jesus:

Depending on your ethnicity, the name could have a very different pronunciation.

Jet

Meaning:

Mineral name

Origin:

Dutch

Pronunciation:

Jet

Alternatives and Variations:

Jett

Famous People Named Jet:

Actor and martial artist Jet Li, the Stranglers drummer Jet Black

Jet Baby Name Trends:

There are so few recorded babies with the name Jet that there isn’t much data to determine how popular or unpopular it is as a name.

Fun Facts about Jet:

In Dutch-speaking countries, it is much more common to find girls with the name than boys.

Jeter

Meaning:

It is more commonly known as a surname

Origin:

German

Pronunciation:

Jee-ter

Alternatives and Variations:

Jet

Famous People Named Jeter:

Politician Jeter Connelly Pritchard, professional baseball player Derek Jeter

Jeter Baby Name Trends:

It saw an all-time rise in 2017, but a sudden dip in popularity in 2019.

Fun Facts about Jeter:

The name Jeter is most commonly found as a surname rather than a first name.

Jethro

Meaning:

Excellence

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Jeth-row

Alternatives and Variations:

Yithro, Jetro

Famous People Named Jethro:

The band Jethro Tull, NFL football coach Jethro Franklin

Jethro Baby Name Trends:

There are no recent baby name trends when it comes to the name Jethro.

Fun Facts about Jethro:

Jethro is also the name of the Biblical father-in-law to Moses.

Ji-hoon

Meaning:

Wisdom, rank

Origin:

Korean

Pronunciation:

Gee-foon

Alternatives and Variations:

Ji-hun, Chihun

Famous People Named Ji-hoon:

South Korean singer and actor Park Ji-hoon

Ji-hoon Baby Name Trends:

In 2008, it was the second most popular boy’s name in South Korea.

Fun Facts about Ji-hoon:

It’s just as popular as a surname as well as a first name.

Jim

Meaning:

Supplanter

Origin:

English

Pronunciation:

Jim

Alternatives and Variations:

Jimmy, James

Famous People Named Jim:

Actor Jim Belushi, fictional Office character Jim Halpert

Jim Baby Name Trends:

The last time it even made it to the top 1,000 names in the U.S. was 1997.

Fun Facts about Jim:

Although you might love the name Jim on its own, it is most commonly known as a shortened version of James.

Joaquin

Meaning:

God will judge

Origin:

Spanish

Pronunciation:

Wah-keen

Alternatives and Variations:

Joaquim, Joachim, Joaquina

Famous People Named Joaquin:

Actor Joaquin Phoenix, Mexican soccer player Joaquín Hernández

Joaquin Baby Name Trends:

The name has been steadily popular over the past several decades and ranked in at 347 in 2018.

Fun Facts about Joaquin:

It is most popular in Argentina and Chile right now.

Joel

Meaning:

Jehovah is his God

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Joe-l

Alternatives and Variations:

Joe, Joelle

Famous People Named Joel:

Author Joel Geist, stock car racer Joel Kauffman

Joel Baby Name Trends:

The name Joel has remained steadily in the top 200 U.S. boy names in the past several decades.

Fun Facts about Joel:

It’s one of those names that don’t even require a nickname of any kind.

Jonathan

Meaning:

Gift of Jehovah

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Jon-ah-than

Alternatives and Variations:

Jon, Jonny, Jono

Famous People Named Jonathan:

NFL player Jonathan Sutherland, Korn lead singer Jonathan Davis

Jonathan Baby Name Trends:

It recently reached an all time high in popularity and now sits ranked at number 63.

Fun Facts about Jonathan:

There are tons of different nicknames for the name Jonathan, so it’s really no wonder why it remains so popular for baby boys.

Jonas

Meaning:

Dove

Origin:

Greek

Pronunciation:

Joe-naas

Alternatives and Variations:

Yonah, Yunus, Jonnas

Famous People Named Jonas:

Singing group Jonas Brothers, Swedish novelist Jonas Gardell

Jonas Baby Name Trends:

It has been up and down in popularity over the years, but right now, the name Jonas sits at number 437 nationally.

Fun Facts about Jonas:

Unsurprisingly, the name Jonas is a variation of the name Jonah.

Jorah

Meaning:

Early rain

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Jore-ah

Alternatives and Variations:

Jo, Jory, Jora

Famous People Named Jorah:

The fictional Game of Thrones character Jorah Mormont

Jorah Baby Name Trends:

Because of how uncommon it is, the name Jorah has not recently been named on any top baby name lists in the U.S.

Fun Facts about Jorah:

Although the name is also found in the Bible, Jorah is probably best known from the book series A Song of Ice and Fire.

Jordan

Meaning:

Flowing down

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Jore-den

Alternatives and Variations:

Jordyn, Jordin

Famous People Named Jordan:

Writer Jordan Sonnenblick, NBA player Michael Jordan

Jordan Baby Name Trends:

Jordan saw a rise in popularity in the past few decades and has remained steadily in the top 100 names in the country.

Fun Facts about Jordan:

Although Jordan is a unisex name, it is more popular as a girl’s name than a boy’s.

Jorge

Meaning:

Farmer

Origin:

Spanish

Pronunciation:

Hor-hay

Alternatives and Variations:

George, Jorginho

Famous People Named Jorge:

Actor Jorge Garcia, baseball player Jorge Cantú

Jorge Baby Name Trends:

Even though it is traditionally a Spanish name, Jorge ranks at 261 in the U.S.

Fun Facts about Jorge:

If you’d rather go with a more exotic version of George, then Jorge is what you are looking for.

Jory

Meaning:

Farmer

Origin:

Danish

Pronunciation:

Jor-ee

Alternatives and Variations:

Rory, Jori, Jo

Famous People Named Jory:

Singer Jory Nash

Jory Baby Name Trends:

It has always remained near the bottom of the popularity list in the U.S. and in recent years hasn’t even ranked in the top 1,000 names.

Fun Facts about Jory:

Jory is also the name of a small character who appeared in the first season of HBO fantasy drama Game of Thrones.

Jose

Meaning:

Raised

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Ho-say

Alternatives and Variations:

Joseph, Xose

Famous People Named Jose:

Professional baseball player Jose Ramirez

Jose Baby Name Trends:

It has never ranked in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Facts about Jose:

Depending on where you are from, the pronunciation of Jose can vary greatly.

Joseph

Meaning:

Jehovah increases

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Jo-sef

Alternatives and Variations:

Joe, Joey, JoJo

Famous People Named Joseph:

Actor Joe Pesci, NFL player Joseph “Doc” Alexander

Joseph Baby Name Trends:

It ranked number 23 in 2018.

Fun Facts about Joseph:

There are tons of variations of Joseph in multiple different languages.

Joshua

Meaning:

The Lord is my salvation

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Josh-oo-ah

Alternatives and Variations:

Josh, Joss

Famous People Named Joshua:

Actor Josh Hutcherson, NFL player Joshua Kalu

Joshua Baby Name Trends:

The name Joshua has remained in the top 40 nationally for the past 40 years.

Fun Facts about Joshua:

There are also multiple Biblical figures by the name of Joshua.

Juan

Meaning:

The Lord is gracious

Origin:

Spanish

Pronunciation:

Wa-hn

Alternatives and Variations:

John, Euan

Famous People Named Juan:

King of Spain Juan Carlos, Mexican singer and songwriter Juan Gabriel

Juan Baby Name Trends:

Even though it hasn’t reached the top few names in the U.S., the name Juan has remained steadily in the top 200 for decades.

Fun Facts about Juan:

Someone who is a Don Juan is known as a womanizer, so don’t be surprised if family and friends jokingly refer to your son as one.

Judd

Meaning:

Flowing down

Origin:

Hebrew

Pronunciation:

Judd

Alternatives and Variations:

Jed, Jud

Famous People Named Judd:

Actor Judd Nelson, filmmaker Judd Apatow

Judd Baby Name Trends:

It hasn’t reached the top 1,000 names in more than 30 years.

Fun Facts about Judd:

The name Judd is considered to be the medieval shorter version of Jordan.

Judge

Meaning:

Word name

Origin:

English

Pronunciation:

Juh-gg

Alternatives and Variations:

Jud

Famous People Named Judge:

Actor Judge Reinhold

Judge Baby Name Trends:

Although the name Judge has become more popular in recent years, it still didn’t break through the 1,000 top U.S. baby boy names in 2019.

Fun Facts about Judge:

It’s a more subtly noble name than opting for Saint or King for your little guy.

Judson

Meaning:

Son of Jordan

Origin:

English

Pronunciation:

Jud-sun

Alternatives and Variations:

Jud

Famous People Named Judson:

Politician Judson Hill, reality TV star Judson Birza

Judson Baby Name Trends:

The popularity of the name Judson has been on a steady decline for years.

Fun Facts about Judson:

Some consider Judson to be an alternative to Justin.

Julius

Meaning:

Youthful, downy-bearded

Origin:

Latin

Pronunciation:

Joo-lee-us

Alternatives and Variations:

Julian, Julien

Famous People Named Julius:

Tennis player Julius Seligson, Roman politician Julius Caesar

Julius Baby Name Trends:

In 2018, the name Julius was ranked as number 341 nationally.

Fun Facts about Julius:

There is also a mall food court juice stand by the name of Orange Julius, so you should probably be aware of that before you stick your kid with the name.

Justice

Meaning:

Rightfulness

Origin:

Latin

Pronunciation:

Juhs-tis

Alternatives and Variations:

Justus, Justis

Famous People Named Justice:

Professional wrestler and actor Jesse “Justice” Smith Jr., the comic book superhero team the Justice League

Justice Baby Name Trends:

It peaked in 2012, but has been on a steady decline in popularity.

Fun Facts about Justice:

It can be used as both a girl’s and boy’s name.

Justin

Meaning:

Fair, righteous

Origin:

Latin

Pronunciation:

Juhs-tin

Alternatives and Variations:

Justine, Justice

Famous People Named Justin:

Singer and actor Justin Timberlake, NFL player Justin Lee Tuck

Justin Baby Name Trends:

The name Justin saw a spike in popularity in 1973 and has remained in the top 200 baby boy names in the country since then.

Fun Facts about Justin:

Because it is so similar in origin to the name Justice, it is sometimes considered a good alternative or as an accompanying name is you happen to have twins.

Final Thoughts On Baby Boy Names Starting With J

For some parents, choosing a baby name is as simple as cracking open a baby naming book and choosing a name at random. For others, it’s a matter of carefully choosing the right name after tons of consideration. There is no wrong way to choose a baby name as long as you are satisfied and have the best intentions behind it. And when it comes to these amazing baby boy names starting with J, it’s hard to find one that will steer your little boy in the wrong direction.