Namewise

Boys' names beginning with J

Names official statistics record as used for boys, whose recorded spelling begins with this letter.

Usage is read from official statistics — which of a registrar's lists published the name — never from an opinion about the name and never as a statement about any child. A name published on both lists is recorded as used for both and is not in either of these pages.

361 names beginning with "J"

Full profile: deeper editorial detail. Official popularity record: sourced statistical evidence, editorial detail not yet written. Name identity record: exists in the catalogue with limited current evidence. Namewise is expanding editorial depth over time.

James

male

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Supplanter, held by the heel (traditional interpretation via Jacob).

Hebrew, via Late Latin Iacomus
John

male

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From Hebrew Yochanan, 'Yahweh is gracious', via Greek Ioannes and Latin Iohannes. One of the most widespread names in Christian Europe, associated with both John the Baptist and the apostle John.

Biblical Hebrew
Jack

male

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God is gracious (via John), though now used as an independent name.

English, historically a diminutive of John
Joshua

male

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From Hebrew Yehoshua, combining 'yeho' (referring to God) with 'yasha' ('to save') — 'Yahweh is salvation'. Joshua succeeded Moses as leader of the Israelites in the Old Testament.

Biblical Hebrew
Jason

male

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From Ancient Greek Iason, meaning 'healer'. In Greek mythology, Jason led the Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece; the name also appears in the New Testament as a Hellenized form possibly of a Hebrew name.

Greek
Jan

male

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A form of Johannes used across many European languages, from Hebrew Yochanan via Greek Ioannes — 'Yahweh is gracious'.

Hebrew, via Dutch/Scandinavian/Central European transmission
Jonas

male

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Traditionally associated with the biblical figure Jonah; some traditions link the underlying Hebrew root to 'dove'.

Hebrew, via Greek; used in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German tradition
Jacob

male

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Commonly interpreted as 'holder of the heel' or 'supplanter', referencing the biblical account of Jacob being born grasping his twin brother Esau's heel. A less common alternate theory holds it may derive from a longer form meaning roughly 'may God protect'.

Biblical Hebrew, via Greek and Latin
Jordan

male

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From the Jordan River, from Hebrew Yarden ('descend, flow down'). Crusaders brought water from the river to baptize children in Europe after John the Baptist baptized Jesus there.

Biblical Hebrew (place name origin)
Jude

male

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Commonly interpreted through its Hebrew root as connected to 'praise', via its relationship to Judah — Behind the Name frames it more narrowly as a variant of Judas.

Hebrew, via Greek and Latin New Testament forms
Jakob

male

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A form of Jacob (or James) used across Germanic and Scandinavian languages, from the Hebrew Ya'akov.

Hebrew, via German/Scandinavian transmission
Johannes

male

Official popularity record

Joseph

male

Official popularity record

Jake

male

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A medieval variant of Jack, also sometimes used as a short form of Jacob.

English, medieval variant
Jamie

male

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Originally a Lowland Scots diminutive of James; used as a feminine name too since the late 19th century.

Scottish, diminutive of James
Jayden

male

Official popularity record

Jonathan

male

Official popularity record

Jørgen

male

Official popularity record

Jesse

male

Official popularity record

Jon

male

Official popularity record

Joakim

male

Official popularity record

Jackson

male

Official popularity record

Jonah

male

Official popularity record

Justin

male

Official popularity record

Showing 24 of 60 names on this page.