Updated October 2026
Across 16 pages
of 16
Hebrew
"inheritance"
This biblical name of the mother of King Jotham of Judah has an appealing soft Russian accent.
Word name
"spell, curse, bringer of bad luck"
Jinx, a James Bond heroine name has an ominous meaning but kinetic energy. In the film "Die Another Day," the actual first name of the character played by Halle Berry is Giacinta. It could therefore…
Arabic and Swahili from Persian
"jewel"
An attractive and traditional unisex name perfect for a cross-cultural child. Despite the current popularity of names ending in -ari, Johari is surprisingly rare in the US, though recent years have…
"perceptive"
The name of two Old Testament kings that seems as ripe as you can get for modern use, given the popularity of sound-alike Biblical brethren Jadon and Jacob (and even mythological Jason). Note that…
"the knowing one"
Jada is one of those rare names that has a completely different root and meaning in its male and female versions. The male Jada is an obscure Biblical figure, a descendant of Judah. The female Jada…
Invented name
A modern creation — likely a hybrid of James and the on-trend -iah suffix.
"day of God"
The undiscovered Biblical Jemuel -- he was a son of Simeon -- was used for just a handful of boys last year but could be prime for rediscovery now that Old Testament names like Noah and Ethan…
Japanese
"second son"
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…
English, variation of Jessamine
"jasmine flower"
Jessamy and big sister Jessamine are all but unknown in the U.S., but make distinctive alternatives to overexposed Jessica, Jessie, and Jasmine.
Feminine variation of Joaquin, Spanish
"God will judge"
As Joaquin enters the American mainstream, his sister might just follow.
Diminutive of Jemma or Jemima
"gem; dove"
There was an eighties cartoon queen named Jem (& The Holograms), and this is as likely to be a full name as a short form – deriving from Jemma, Jemima or Jameela.
Finnish, Danish, Swedish variation of Jo
"Jehovah increases"
A unisex Scandinavian name. Joa is more common for boys in Finland but equally split between sexes in Sweden and Denmark.
Diminutive of Jocelyn, German
"member of the Gauts tribe"
Joss is more fashionable than Jocelyn or Josslyn. This is a short form that could be used independently, a la the singer Joss Stone. One of a troupe of adorable boyish nicknames newly fashionable for…
Greek variation of Joseph, Hebrew
Greek variation of Joseph used in the New Testament. Joses is one of those names that feels at once novel and familiar, perhaps because it also sounds like Moses. An intriguing option.
Greek, meaning unknown
Jocasta is a mythological name fashionably used in England, but mostly ignored here. She was the mother of Oedipus, King of Thebes, whom he (oops) unwittingly married. If you can ignore that small…
"mountain goat"
Variation of Jael.
"to behold"
This variation of Iscah connects that biblical name to the Shakespearean Jessica, which it's believed to be the root of. Iscah, a niece of Abraham, is mentioned briefly in the Book of Genesis.
The -ah ending makes Jedah read feminine, but it was actually created for a male character in the video game Darkstalkers . One of the many unique baby names inspired by the gaming world.
Variation of Kathryn.
Cornish variation of the Welsh name Gwenfrewi
"white peace"
This Celtic saint's name is the most offbeat Jen name of all.