All Names By GeographyDragon
- Irina
Origin:
Russian from GreekMeaning:
"peace"Description:
Irina is a Russian ballet-inflected classic, one of the Three Sisters in the Chekhov play. While some Americans will pronounce this like Irene with three syllables, the pronunciation used throughout Europe, where it's widely used, starts with a short i as in it or if and a strong emphasis on the second syllable.
- Iris
Origin:
Flower name; GreekMeaning:
"rainbow"Description:
Iris has so much going for it. It's a fashionable flower name. It's a mythological name, from the Greek goddess of the rainbow. And it's a classic name, always ranking in the girls' Top 1000 but now at its highest point ever.
- Isis
Origin:
EgyptianMeaning:
"throne"Description:
Isis has gone from magical, feminist name on the rise to the forbidden list because of the extremist terror group called ISIS, an acronym for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Unsurprisingly, Isis was one of the fastest-falling names in 2014, dropping 130 ranks to reach #706. Interestingly, however, since 2020, it has begun to see increased use again, and 2023 saw it given to 151 girls.
- Izola
Description:
Izola is a feminine given name with multiple possible origins. It may be derived from the Italian city of Isola, meaning 'island' in Italian. Alternatively, it could be a variant of Isabel/Isabella (of Hebrew origin meaning 'pledged to God') or Isolde (a name from medieval Arthurian legend). The name appears in historical records in the United States dating back to the late 19th century, though it has always remained relatively uncommon. A notable bearer was Izola Curry, a historical figure from the Civil Rights era. The name saw modest usage through the early-to-mid 20th century but became increasingly rare after the 1950s. Izola has a melodic quality with its succession of open vowel sounds that gives it a distinctive lyrical quality.
- Jackie
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
A cute diminutive of Jack, already technically a nickname for John, famously borne by Hong Kong actor, director and martial artist Jackie Chan.
- Jackie
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Jackie Kennedy gave this name a lot of style, but it doesn't seem destined for a comeback the way brother name Jack has. Jackie and Jacqueline both peaked in 1961.
- Jackson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Jack"Description:
Jackson is one of those names that's much more popular than you think, coming in near the top of our annual Playground Analysis, which ranks names by grouping all their spellings together. Last year, nearly 17,000 baby boys were named Jackson -- along Jaxon, Jaxson, Jaxxon, Jaxen, Jaxyn, Jaxsen, and Jaxsyn -- which counted together makes it the Number 3 boys' name.
- Jackson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Jack"Description:
No, Jackson is not the latest crazy name the girls are stealing from the boys. Oddly enough, Jackson was given to MORE girls a decade ago than it was last year, probably as a family name or as a tribute to the musicians. But Jackson's extreme popularity as a boys' name has probably made it feel less possible for girls.
- Jaclyn
Origin:
Variation of Jacqueline, FrenchMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Jaclyn is a feminine name derived from the English name Jacqueline, which is a feminine form of Jacques, the French form of Jacob. The name Jacob comes from Hebrew origin, meaning "supplanter."
- Jacqueline
Origin:
French, feminine diminutive of JacquesMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Jacqueline originated as a feminine form of Jacques, the French variation of James, and therefore Jacob. Jacob was ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Ya’aqov, and gets its meaning, "supplanter" from the story of Jacob supplanting his brother Esau as the first-born son in the Bible. Jacqueline was first used in France in the Middle Ages.
- Jacques
Origin:
French variation of James and JacobMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Regal and ancient feeling, Jacques has been declining in popularity in its native France, but in the UK, it saw a surprising revival in 2022. Jumping from somewhere around the #2500 mark straight to #600, it was seven times more popular than in 2021.
- Jaiden
Origin:
Hebrew variation of Jadon, modern inventionDescription:
Jaiden could be a variation of the Hebrew name Jadon, meaning "thankful", however, it may also be a modern invention, taking inspiration from Hayden and Aiden and combining it with the popular J- sound of James, Jason, and Jacob. While it has declined in use in the US in recent years, and is less popular than Jayden or Jaden, when combined with all its other spelling variations, it will still feel like a Top 50 name.
- Jaiden
Description:
See JADEN.
- Jakob
Origin:
German, Norwegian, and Slovenian variation of Jacob, Hebrew variation of JamesMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
After cracking the US Top 200 in the early 2000s, fueled by Jacob's rise, this name has been losing steam in recent years. But Jakob is the top form of the name in many other countries, cultures, and languages, ranking highly in Germany, Norway, Austria, Iceland, and Slovenia. Jakub is the Polish variation.
- Jayce
Origin:
Modern invented nameMeaning:
"to heal"Description:
Jayce, which probably started out as an abbreviation of names like Jason, with the 'y' borrowed from Jayden, now has a life of its own, making a strong showing on the popularity lists. It is currently in the US Top 200 and features in the charts in the UK and The Netherlands.
- Jayne
Origin:
Variation of JaneDescription:
Unplain (if dated) Jane.
- Jereth
Description:
Jereth is a masculine name with possible variations of Jareth or Gareth. While Gareth has Welsh origins from Arthurian legend, Jereth appears to be a modern variation. The name gained some recognition through pop culture, most notably when David Bowie portrayed the character Jareth in the 1986 film 'Labyrinth.' Jereth has never been common in mainstream naming trends but appeals to parents seeking something distinctive yet familiar-sounding. It carries a mystical, slightly otherworldly quality while remaining pronounceable and accessible. The name suggests strength and uniqueness, making it appealing for parents wanting a name that stands out without being too unusual or difficult to pronounce.
- Jiminy
Description:
Jiminy is a masculine name that gained recognition primarily through the character Jiminy Cricket in Disney's 'Pinocchio.' Rather than having ancient roots, this whimsical name evolved from the euphemistic exclamation 'Jiminy Cricket!' (a substitute for 'Jesus Christ'). As a given name, Jiminy remains extremely rare, carrying a playful, storybook quality that evokes childlike wonder and imagination. Parents who choose this name may appreciate its literary connections and cheerful sound. The association with Jiminy Cricket—a conscience personified—gives the name connotations of moral guidance, wisdom, and friendly counsel. Its uniqueness ensures it stands out, though the strong fictional association may be its defining characteristic for most people.
- Joffrey
Origin:
Variant of GeoffreyDescription:
King Joffrey Baratheon, the petulant biological son of siblings Cersei and Jaime Lannisters, is perhaps the most notorious villain in the entire Game of Thrones canon. His name is practically a byword for sadism among fans of the show and George R.R. Martin's books. As such, we think it's probably a name best avoided IRL.
- Josefina
Origin:
Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish feminine form of Joseph, HebrewMeaning:
"Jehovah increases"Description:
Sweet and bright international form of Josephine, used in many European countries with various pronunciations of the initial J. A notable bearer is Josefina "Joey" Guerrero, a Filipina spy during World War II.