Dog Names That Start With J

  1. Jordyn
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Jordan
    • Meaning:

      "flowing down"
    • Description:

      This variation of Jordan entered the Top 1000 in 1989. Jordyn as well as Jordan trended throughout the 90s and early 2000s, but are beginning to fall slightly on the girls' side. While the Jordan spelling reached the highest point in popularity out of the 2, making it into the Top 50 in the late 90s and early 2000s, today Jordyn has taken the lead.
  2. Jonesy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Jones, English surname derived from John
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      It's difficult to imagine anyone using the first name Jonesy -- and in fact, in the most recent US tally, there were nearly 100 babies named Jones but none named Jonesy. Still, this is a name that many people with Jones for a name, last or first, end up being known by, and as a nickname, it's sorta cute in a Skip, Chip, Bitsy kind of way.
  3. Jada
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "jade"
    • Description:

      Long used in Spanish-speaking countries, this strong but feminine name was jump-started here by the rise of actress Jada Pinkett Smith. The Italian Giada is a popular variation. In the Bible, the name Jada was borne by a man and has a different root and meaning: It's Hebrew and means "he knows".
  4. Jaliyah
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name, from Hebrew or Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "God's ascent; lofty, exalted"
    • Description:

      Jaliyah seems to be a variation of the popular Aliyah, which has both Hebrew and Arabic origins. From Hebrew, the name means "ascent" while the Ja- beginning often connotes God, so the meaning might be "God's ascent." As an Arabic name, Aliyah means "lofty" or "exalted" while Ja- is a popular prefix used in the African American community, so Jaliyah might be a twist on a more popular choice, or a way to honor an Aliyah.
  5. Janice
    • Origin:

      Variation of Jane
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      For a minute or two this sounded more modern than Janet, now equally outmoded.
  6. Jupiter
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "godfather"
    • Description:

      Jupiter may be known as the father of all the gods, but it's baby girls who have claimed his name for their own. Mythological and celestial baby names are hot across the board, so Jupiter was bound to rise in popularity. But the reason it's currently mostly female in the US is thanks to its similarities to the trendy feminine name Juniper.
  7. Jacinta
    • Origin:

      Spanish for Greek flower name
    • Meaning:

      "hyacinth"
    • Description:

      Jacinta, the Spanish word for hyacinth, is a lot softer and sweeter than the English version. The correct Spanish pronunciation is ha-SEEN-ta, though many English speakers would say ja-SIN-ta. Although the name is slightly different, Jacinta is largely associated at present with Australian-born actress Jacinda Barrett.
  8. Jeff
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Jeffrey, Jefferson
    • Meaning:

      "pledge of peace"
    • Description:

      The ultimate dad name.
  9. Jaylen
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name
    • Description:

      More popular than the Jalen spelling. Like other names with many variants, when you count up all the alternatives, the name is much more popular than it first appears.
  10. Jetson
    • Origin:

      Variation of Judson
    • Description:

      The surname name Jetson may have originated as a variation on Judson, a patronymic related to Jordan, but it is more familiar to most Americans as the last name of the futuristic cartoon family. Jetson may appeal to parents as a proper form leading to the cool boy nickname Jet.
  11. Jedidiah
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "beloved of the Lord"
    • Description:

      Jedidiah, an Old Testament name with a touch of Gunsmoke-era western panache, is right in line to be revived along with the other biblical -iah names.
  12. Jarek
    • Origin:

      Slavic
    • Meaning:

      "spring"
    • Description:

      Diminutive for all the Slavic names that start with Jar-. If for family or cultural reasons you're seeking such a name, then this is a reasonable short form.
  13. Journey
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "passage from one place to another"
    • Description:

      One of the new word names, appealing to parents attracted to the idea of a spiritual -- or even an actual -- voyage. The Journee spelling is also being used. Unisex alert: Jenna Jameson used Journey for one of her twin boys, as did the Black Eyed Peas rock musician known as Taboo.
  14. Julio
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Julius
    • Meaning:

      "youthful: downy-bearded; sky father"
    • Description:

      What with Paul Simon's classic lyric about Julio down by the schoolyard and several distinguished bearers, this livelier Spanish version of Julius is completely familiar to the non-Hispanic community and would make a great choice for a bicultural family. Popular in Brazil, it also ranks in the US Top 600 and given to more than 500 boys each year. NFL Atlanta Falcons star Julio Jones bears this name.
  15. Jess
    • Origin:

      Short form of Jessica, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "behold or wealthy"
    • Description:

      Many variations of Jessica, including Jessie and Jessa, are used on their own, but Jess is an exception, given to only a handful of baby girls last year. But Jess is certainly the name that many Jessicas are called.
  16. Jock
    • Origin:

      Scottish variation of Jack
    • Description:

      This is a Scottish pet form of John, the equivalent of Jack in England. Has long been used as a generic name for a Scotsman, here it's a generic name for a--well--jock.
  17. Jotham
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "the Lord is perfect"
    • Description:

      Jotham is an Old Testament name that today would certainly be the only one in his class, having something of an urban feel via its similarity to the word 'gotham'. In the Bible one Jotham is the sole surviving son of Gideon after the massacre of his brothers, the other is a king of Judah who was an enthusiastic builder. Jotham Riddle is a character in James Fenimore Cooper's novel The Pioneers, while Jotham Powell appears in Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome.
  18. Jimena
    • Origin:

      Variation of Ximena, Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "hearing, listening; son"
    • Description:

      A popular choice in Mexico, Spain, and Puerto Rico, Jimena has also appears in the Top 600 in the US. It was historically borne by Jimena Díaz, the wife of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (better known by the honorific El Cid), an 11th century ruler and warlord.
  19. Jiro
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "second son"
    • Description:

      Also written as Jirō, this is a commonly used Japanese name, sometimes as a standalone and sometimes as a suffix. Often written to mean "second son", other kanji elements may be used to create the meanings "son, reign", "second, melodious", and "next son".
  20. Jules
    • Origin:

      Latin; Greek
    • Meaning:

      "youthful; soft, downy"
    • Description:

      Jules is one of the adorable boyish nicknames newly fashionable for girls. It's rarer than Billie, with a cool and casual feel. It's use in the popular TV series Euphoria - where the character of Jules Vaughn was portrayed by Hunter Schafer - brought this name into the spotlight.