Has lost all trace of its French accent.

Jara is a name with roots in several different cultures and languages, with different meanings and associations. She's the Hindu goddess of the household, happiness, and prosperity. In Spanish, where the name is pronounced with an H sound at the beginning ala Jose, Jara is a flower name meaning "rock-rose". In Arabic, the meaning of "earthen water jug" relates it to both the earth and to water.

Josée is a feminine name of French origin, representing the French feminine form of Joseph, which comes from Hebrew meaning 'God will add' or 'God will increase.' Most common in French-speaking regions like Quebec, France, and parts of Switzerland, Josée offers a distinctive alternative to the more widely used Josie or Josephine. The name gained modest popularity in Quebec during the mid-20th century but remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries. The accent mark gives it a sophisticated European flair while maintaining simple pronunciation. Josée combines traditional roots with a modern, international sensibility, appealing to parents seeking a name with French cultural connections or looking for a refined yet accessible choice that balances familiarity with uniqueness.

Justina was the pre-Justine feminization of Justin, now a possible alternative to Christina. Oddly, while Justine feels like a name unto itself, Justina feels like a pinned-together feminization in the mold of Richarda or Benjamina. Still, it may appeal as one of the unusual-yet-familiar girl names starting with J.

Juin is a feminine name with multiple cultural connections. Most prominently, it derives from the French word for the month of June, ultimately stemming from the Roman goddess Juno, who represented marriage and well-being. In Chinese contexts, different characters pronounced as 'Juin' can carry meanings related to gathering, elegance, or intelligence depending on the specific characters used. As a given name, Juin remains relatively uncommon internationally but may appeal to parents seeking a subtle connection to June without using the more common version. The name has a delicate, flowing sound that works well in multicultural contexts, while its brevity makes it distinctive yet accessible. It carries seasonal associations with early summer, warmth, and blossoming.

Judi is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of Judith, which has Hebrew origins meaning 'woman from Judea' or 'praised.' This shorter variation gained particular popularity in the mid-20th century as a more modern alternative to the traditional Judith. The name received significant visibility through acclaimed British actress Dame Judi Dench, whose distinguished career helped maintain the name's association with elegance and talent. Judi peaked in popularity in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s, reflecting the era's preference for friendly, accessible shortened names. Though less common among newborns today, Judi maintains an image of warmth and approachability. The name's straightforward pronunciation and spelling, combined with its rich historical roots, make it simultaneously unpretentious and meaningful.

Another version of Jelena, both Eastern European relatives of Helen.

Love the name wren but need something not quite so trendy? Consider Jedda. Jedda is derived from the word 'djida' meaning "wren" in the language of the Noongar people of Western Australia. Jedda was also the name of the eponymous heroine of the film "Jedda", which was one of the first Australian films to be shot in color and was the first to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival (it was nominated for the Palme d'Or). The perfect name for nature enthusiasts and film buffs alike.

Jaylen is a contemporary name that gained popularity in the late 20th century. Likely created as a variation of names beginning with 'Jay' (such as Jason or Jayson) combined with the popular '-len' suffix found in names like Allen or Glen. The name may also be influenced by the success of similar-sounding names like Jalen, which gained prominence after basketball player Jalen Rose (whose name was a combination of his father's and uncle's names). While originally more common for boys, Jaylen has emerged as a unisex name with feminine usage increasing since the 2000s. The name peaked in popularity for boys in the 2010s, ranking in the top 200 names in the United States. The versatile sound patterns and contemporary feel of Jaylen have contributed to its appeal across diverse communities. The name exemplifies modern naming trends that favor distinctive sounds with flexible gender associations.

Jeannette is a feminine name with French origins, functioning as a diminutive of Jeanne (the French form of Jane/Joan). Ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, the root of John meaning 'God is gracious,' Jeannette carries this blessing within its charming diminutive form.

Pronounced as the English word joy, rather than as the French phrase joie de vivre, Joie might produce more complications than joy.

This adjective name is fun, lively, musical, and full of pizzaz. Jazzy can stand on its own, or act as a fun nickname for names like Jasmine or Jasper.

This name of a Buddhist goddess, a possible alternative to the trendy Maya, was chosen for their daughter by Laura Dern and Ben Harper. Jaya is simple yet unusual, a winning combination, and one of the out-of-the-box goddess names as well as one of the most easily translated Hindi names for girls.

Fine in France, but here it means vegetables sliced into thin strips.

But what happens when Jeune grows vieille.

Randall Jarrell was an important mid-20th century poet; his surname makes a pleasingly soft name for a girl.

Much less popular than the original spelling of Jocelyn, though still given to over 100 baby girls in the US last year. While it might be tempting to go with this more phonetic spelling, we recommend sticking with the traditional name.

Justa is an ancient saints' name. Saints Justa and Rufina were martyred sisters who are today the patron saints of Seville in Spain.