These Boy Names That Start With J Are as Joyful as It Gets (2024)

While most Twihards associate the name Jacob with their favorite werewolf, it actually dates back to the Bible. Jacob was the son of Issac and Rebecca, and his sons become the 12 tribes of Israel, according to Nameberry. The name is of Hebrew origins and is the most popular of the boy names that start was J.

Jonathan comes from Hebrew origins and means "God has given," according to BabyNames. The name was very popular in the mid 1900s, Nameberry noted, but it has lost some of its popularity now into the 21st century, though it still falls in the top 100 boy names.

The Arabic name Jamil peaked in the 1990s, according to Nameberry, and it means "beautiful, handsome." It's one of the more unique boy names that start with J, so it works perfectly if you're trying to stick to the letter but don't want a common name.

Once the most popular Christian name for boys, the name John has been used much less since the 1950s, Nameberry noted. It stems from Hebrew origins, meaning "God is gracious" and has belonged to 84 saints and 23 popes. Some modern parents have veered away from John and toward the more playful and less common Jack.

Joaquin, brought to recent fame with Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix and Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelo's son, is still one of the less common J names. According to The Bump, the Spanish name that means "established by God" ranks 690 in popularity, making it a more unique name for your little one.

If you're looking for a name that steers away from gender constraints, James is ideal. Though it used to primarily be a boy name, James has recently gained traction as a girl's name as well. Nameberry noted it's the English derivation of Hebrew name Jacob and means "supplanter."

The name Jonah means "dove" and is rooted in Hebrew origins, according to Nameberry. If you've read the Old Testament, Jonah may seem familiar to you because he was the prophet who was swallowed by a whale and emerged unharmed three days later.

Another name of Hebrew origins, Joel is also in the Old Testament, and it means "The Lord God," Baby Names noted. The name entered into the Top 100 toward the end of the '60s and stayed there until the early '90s. Today, it falls slightly below the top 200.

Julian is another possible gender-neutral name. It's rooted in Latin origins and means "youthful, downy," according to BabyNames. The name is more commonly used for males, considering there are similar names for females like Julia or Juliet, but it's recently gained popularity for baby girls as well.

According to BabyNames, the French name Jacques also stems from Hebrew name Jacob, meaning "supplanter." Though some people may argue naming an American baby Jacques is a bit pretentious, it's a beautiful name, and if you like it, that's all that matters.

The name Jason is of Greek origins but can also be found in the Bible. In Greek Mythology, Jason led the Argonauts who went is search of the Golden Fleece, while in the Bible he showed hospitality to St. Paul, according to Nameberry. Jason, which means "healer," peaked in popularity in the 1970s where it maintained its place as the third most popular boy name and launched similar names like Jacob, Mason, and Jackson.

Javier is a common name in Latinx families in the U.S. due to its Spanish origins, The Bump noted. It means "bright." The name originated as an homage to Spanish missionary and patron saint of all missionaries, St. Francis Xavier, and has gained recent fame because of actor Javier Bardem.

The Bump noted that the Hebrew name meaning "the Lord exalts," has become more popular in the last few years. In the Old Testament, Jeremiah is a prophet who cautioned people about the fall of Jerusalem and spoke against false gods and idolization.

Justin Bieber and Justin Timberlake are just a couple of the celebrities who have brought fame to this Latin name that means "fair, righteous," according to Nameberry. Though not as popular as it once was, the name still falls within the Top 150 baby boy names. If you like the name Justin for your baby, baby, baby, ooh, but want to spice it up a little, consider spelling it as Justyn or Justen.

Joshua stems from Hebrew origins and means "the Lord is my salvation," Nameberry noted. Derived from Hebrew name Yehoshu'a, it shares its origins with the name Jesus. In the Old Testament, Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land. The name has dropped in popularity in the last decade, but it still sits comfortably in the Top 50 names. If you're looking for a bit more of a unique name, consider Josh. The nickname is much less common as a first name.

According to Nameberry, Jonas is the Greek derivation of Hebrew name Jonah, so it, too, means "dove." The name gives off a bit of a retro appeal, but that's one of the things that makes it such an adorable option for your new baby boy. And Jonas is not a popular name, so it could allow him to stand out more than he would with a common nameJulia.