Girls Names Beginning With J

  1. Joanna
    • Origin:

      Variation of Johanna
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      Joanna derives from the Greek name Ioanna, which in turn came from the Hebrew name Yohannah. It is featured in the New Testament as a woman who accompanied Jesus on his travels and eventually reached saint status. Other names related to Joanna include Joan, Joanne, Johanna, and Jana.
  2. Joanne
    • Origin:

      French variation of Joanna, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      A Top 100 name from the 1930s all the way through the 1950s, it's now firmly in Mom -- or Grandma -- land and supplanted for babies by Joanna.....or even great-grandmother Josephine. In its heyday, it had a host of variations, including JoAnn and Jo-Anne.
  3. Johanna
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      Johanna is the version of this name used in Holland, Germany, and Scandinavia. The extra h makes Johanna a slightly more dignified version of Joanna.
  4. Joie
    • Origin:

      French variation of Joy
    • Description:

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

      French flower name, from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "reed"
  6. Jordan
    • Origin:

      English from Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "flowing down"
    • Description:

      Originally used for children baptized in holy water from the river Jordan, it became one of the leading androgynous names of the nineties. As the balance tips toward the boys' side, it's slipping on the girls' popularity chart. Alternate spelling Jordyn is now more popular for girls.
  7. Jordana
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "flowing down"
    • Description:

      A feminization used more before Jordan joined the girls' camp.
  8. Jordane
    • Josephe
      • Origin:

        French feminine variation of Joseph, Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "Jehovah increases"
      • Description:

        Josephe is much less well-known in the English-speaking world than Josephine or Joanna. English speakers might have trouble with its similarity to the male Joseph.
    • Josephina
      • Josephine
        • Origin:

          French feminine variation of Joseph, Hebrew
        • Meaning:

          "Jehovah increases"
        • Description:

          Josephine, with its large measure of class and character and a gently offbeat quality, has been on a gentle uphill climb in the US for over 30 years, now ranking in the Top 100. With an intriguing number of vivacious nicknames, from Jo to Josie to Fifi to Posy, Josephine is a Nameberry favorite.
      • Josetta
        • Josette
          • Origin:

            French,pet form of Josephine, feminine of Joseph, Hebrew
          • Meaning:

            "Jehovah increases"
          • Description:

            One of the group of French 'ette'-ending names that emigrated to this country in the last century, though never as popular as some others, such as Claudette and Paulette--it did have a little six-year flurry here between 1967 and 1973. Josette may be feminine and flirty, but, given the choice, most parents today would prefer Josephine.
        • Josiane
          • Josianne
            • Josie
              • Origin:

                English, diminutive of Josephine, feminine of Joseph, Hebrew
              • Meaning:

                "Jehovah increases"
              • Description:

                Josie is jaunty and friendly: among the most winning of all nickname names. She's been on the social security list since records began being kept.
            • Joslyn
              • Origin:

                Spelling variation of Jocelyn
              • Description:

                Much less popular than the original spelling of Jocelyn. While it might be tempting to go with this more phonetic spelling, we recommend sticking with the traditional name.
            • Joslynn
              • Joss
                • Origin:

                  English, diminutive of Jocelyn
                • Description:

                  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 girls a la Lou and Charlie.
              • Josée