Neutral names starting with J

An alphabetical list of neutral names starting with J, continued from the names page, which see for more information. These are neutral-gender names, otherwise known as unisex names. They are equally appropriate for girls, boys, and people of any gender. Nonbinary people don't have to have neutral names, and many notable nonbinary people have names that are usually either masculine or feminine. Neutral names can help make it safer for people to explore their gender expressions. In English-speaking countries, some of the most familiar gender-neutral names starting with J include Jackie, Jaden, Jan, Jamie, Jay, Jean, Jerry, Jessie, Jo, and Jordan. However, there are many more unisex names from around the world that start with J, more than 130 of them, as listed below. Previous page: neutral names starting with I. Next page: neutral names starting with K.

The list
Jabre. American, modern. From the masculine Arabic name Jabar (جابار). Meaning "Comforting." Keywords: positive, two syllables

Jace. American, modern. Short form of the Greek masculine name Jason (Ἰάσων). Meaning "Healer." Keywords: healing, occupation, one syllable, positive

Jaci. Tupi (Native American). From Tupi îasy, meaning "moon." Keywords: moon, nature, sky, two syllables

Jacey. American, modern. Short form of the Greek masculine name Jason (Ἰάσων). Meaning "Healer." Keywords: healing, occupation, positive, two syllables

Jackie. American, modern. Diminutive of the English masculine name, Jack, and the French and English feminine name, Jacqueline. Meaning "Supplanter." Keywords: two syllables

Jackopa. Native American, Ojibwa. Meaning "Six." Keywords: numbers, three syllables

Jacobean. English. Meaning "From the reign of James I of England, the time period of the mid-19th century."

Jacquard. French. Meaning "Weaving in a pattern."

Jada (יָדָע). Hebrew. Meaning "He knows," or "Wise." Keywords: character traits, intelligence, two syllables, virtue

Jade. English. Meaning "The precious stone, jade." Variants: Jaden, Jadyn, Jaiden, Jayda, Jayde, and Jayden. Keywords: earth, nature, stone, treasure, two syllables

Jaden. Modern. Neutral variant of the masculine Hebrew name, Jadon (יָדוֹן). Meaning "He will judge." Also, sometimes an elaborated version of the name Jade, meaning "The precious stone." Other neutral variants: Jaden, Jadyn, Jaiden, Jaetyn, Jayden, and Jaydon. Keywords: gems, minerals, religion, religious, two syllables

Jae. 1. (재). Korean. A neutral name meaning "Talent" or "Wealth," depending on the hanja characters with the same pronunciation used to write it. Pronounced "Cheh." 2. English. Variant spelling of the name Jay, which see. Keywords: one syllable.

Jaffe (יָפֶה). Hebrew. Neutral transcription of the feminine name Yaffa. Meaning "Beautiful." Other neutral variant: Yafe. Keywords: appearance, beauty, virtue

Jahdahdieh. Onondaga (Native American). Meaning "Whale who sails."

Jaime. Spanish. The Spanish pronunciation is "HI-may," and an anglicized pronuncation is "JAY-mee." A neutral form of the English masculine name James, from the Latin masculine name Iacomus, from the Biblical Latin masculine name Iacobus, from the Biblical Hebrew name Ya'aqov (יַעֲקֹב), which is otherwise anglicized as Jacob. Meaning "Holder of the heel" or "Supplanter." Keywords: Biblical, two syllables

Jaimin. English, modern. A neutral variant of the English masculine name James, from the Latin masculine name Iacomus, from the Biblical Latin masculine name Iacobus, from the Biblical Hebrew name Ya'aqov (יַעֲקֹב), which is otherwise anglicized as Jacob. Meaning "Holder of the heel" or "Supplanter." Keywords: Biblical, two syllables

Jairdan. English, modern. A combination of the names Jair and Jordan. Keywords: modern, two syllables

Jalen. African American English. From a combination of the masculine names James and Leonard. This is more often a masculine name, but some variants are seen as more neutral, such as Jaylen, Jaylin.

Jam. English, modern. Meaning "A sweet condiment" or "A musical get-together." Keywords: cute, food, music, one syllable

Jamaica. English, modern. From the name of the place Jamaica. Meaning "Land of wood and water."

James. English. Usually masculine, but sometimes neutral. From the Latin masculine name Iacomus, from the Biblical Latin masculine name Iacobus, from the Biblical Hebrew name Ya'aqov (יַעֲקֹב), which is otherwise anglicized as Jacob. Meaning "Holder of the heel" or "Supplanter." Neutral variants: Jame, Jamese, Jaymes. Keywords: Biblical, one syllable, two syllables

Jameson. English. A neutral name from the surname, meaning "Son of James." Keywords: two syllables

Jamie. English and Scottish. A neutral form of the English masculine name James, from the Latin masculine name Iacomus, from the Biblical Latin masculine name Iacobus, from the Biblical Hebrew name Ya'aqov (יַעֲקֹב), which is otherwise anglicized as Jacob. Meaning "Holder of the heel" or "Supplanter." Variants: Jaime, Jayme. Keywords: Biblical, two syllables. Notable nonbinary people with this name include Jamie Wildman and Jamie Windust.

Jamyang. Tibetan. Meaning "Gentle song." Keywords: arts, music, voice

Jan. A name that is masculine in some places, feminine in others. 1. Dutch. A masculine name, pronounced "Yahn," a form of the name John. 2. English. A feminine name, short for Janet or Janice. Keywords: one syllable

Janika. A feminine name in some places, and a masculine name in others. 1. Finnish. A feminine name from the German name Jannike. Meaning "God is gracious." 2. Hungarian. A masculine name from János. Meaning "God is gracious."

January. English. Meaning "Born in January." Keywords: birth, four syllables, time, seasons, winter

Jaramillo. Spanish. From the surname, from the place name in the south of Castilla, meaning "Of the jaramago tree."

Jaren. English, modern. A combination of the names Jay and Darren.

Jaspen. English, modern. A combination of the names Jasper and Aspen.

Jasvinder or Jaswinder (ਜਸਵਿੰਦਰ). Gurmukhi, Sikh. Meaning "Fame, praise, glory," combined with the name of the Hindu thunder god Indra.

Java. English, modern. From the type of coffee, from the Arabic word for the island in Indonesia. Keywords: food, technology, two syllables

Jawdat (جودت). Arabic. Meaning "Excellence."

Jax. English. Short form of Jackson, from the surname, meaning "Son of Jack." Jack originated as a form of the masculine name John. John comes from the Latin masculine name Iohannes, from Greek masculine name Ioannes, from the Hebrew masculine name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), meaning "God is gracious." Variants: Jaxie. Keywords: Biblical, one syllable, two syllables. Nonbinary characters in fiction bearing this name include Jax in the short film Royalty.

Jay. Short form of many names beginning with the letter J. Also the type of bird. Variant: Jaye. Keywords: birds, nature, one syllable

Jaya (जया or जय). Sanskrit. A feminine name in some regions of India, and a msculine name in others. Meaning "Victory."

Jaycee. English, modern. From the initials "J. C.," which can refer to many names, including Jesus Christ. Keywords: Christian, modern, two syllables

Jaydel. English, modern. From a combination of the names Jay and Dell. Keywords: two syllables

Jazz. English, modern. Meaning "The jazz style of music." Keywords: modern, music, one syllable

Jean. English. Meaning "God is gracious."

Jeong (정). Korean. Meaning "Gentle" or "Virtuous," depending on the hanja characters used to write it with the same pronunciation. Pronounced "Chung."

Jem. English. A short form of names such as James and Jemima. Also a variant of "Gem." Keywords: earth, nature, one syllable

Jeren. English, modern. A short form of names such as Jerome, Jerry, Geraldine, or Gerald. Keywords: two syllables

Jermaine. French. Meaning "From Germany." Variants: Jermane. Keywords: two syllables

Jerry. English. Short for many names starting with this sound, such sa Jeremy, Gerry, and Geraldine. Variants: Jerri, Jerrie.

Jersey. English. From the place name, meaning "Grassy island."

Jerusalem. Hebrew. From the place name, meaning "Heritage of peace."

Jes or Jess. Short form of names such as Jessie, Jessica, Jesemin, Jesper, etc. Notable nonbinary people with this name include comedian Jes Tom. Nonbinary characters in fiction with this name include Jess Goldberg, the protagonist of Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg.

Jesse. English, Dutch, and Finnish. Usually masculine, but sometimes neutral. From the Biblical Hebrew masculine name Yishai (יִשַׁי), meaning "Gift."

Jessie or Jessi. Originally a Scottish diminutive of Jean. In modern times it is also used as a diminutive of Jessica. Also a variant of Jesse, from the Hebrew name יִשַׁי (Yishai), which possibly means "gift".

Jewel or Jewell. Partly from the English word jewel, a precious stone, derived from Old French jouel, which was possibly related to jeu "game". Also partly from the Breton name Judicaël, derived from the elements iudd "lord, prince" and hael "generous". This was the name of a 7th-century Breton king, also regarded as a saint. Keywords: gems, French, two syllables, saints

Ji (지). Korean. Meaning "Wisdom," or other meanings, depending on the hanja used to write it with the same pronunciation. Pronounced "Jee."

Jia. Chinese. Meaning "Auspicious," "Home," or other meanings, depending on the characters used to write it with the same pronunciation.

Jian. Chinese. Meaning "Establish," or "Healthy," or other meanings, depending on the characters used to write it with the same pronunciation.

Jiang. Chinese. Meaning "Yangtze river," or other meanings, depending on the characters used to write it with the same pronunciation.

Jicarilla. Apache Native American. Meaning "Water rapids."

Jie. Chinese. Meaning "Heroic," or other meanings, depending on the characters used to write it with the same pronunciation.

Ji-Hu. Korean. Meaning "Wisdom" and "thick," or other meanings, depending on the hanja used to write it with the same pronunciation.

Jiles. English, modern. A variant of the name Giles.

Jimi or Jimmie. English. Neutral short form of the usually masculine name James. Keywords: two syllables

Ji-Min. Korean. Meaning "Ambition" and "Clever," or other meanings, depending on the hanja used to write it with the same pronunciation.

Jin. Chinese. Meaning "Gold," or other meanings, depending on the characters used to write it with the same pronunciation.

Jinan (جنان). Arabic. Meaning "Garden" or "Paradise."

Jindra. Czech. Neutral short form of names such as the feminine Jindřiška and masculine Jindřich, which come from the English name Henry, meaning "Ruler of the house."

Jing. Chinese. Meaning "Crystal," or other meanings, depending on the characters used to write it with the same pronunciation.

Jingyi. Chinese. Meaning "Joy," or other meanings, depending on the characters used to write it with the same pronunciation.

Jip. Frisian. Neutral short form of names such as Germanic masculine Gijsbert and feminine Gijsberta.

Ji-Soo or Ji-Su. Korean. Meaning "Ambition" and "Luxuriant," or other meanings, depending on the hanja used to write it with the same pronunciation.

Jo. Dutch, English, German, and Norwegian. Neutral short form of many names beginning with Jo, such as feminine names Joan, Joanna, Johanna, and Josephine, and masculine names Johannes and Josef. The variants Joey and Joe are more often masculine, but not exclusively. Nonbinary characters in fiction with this name include Jo in the original American Repertory Theater production of Jagged Little Pill. Keywords: one syllable

Jocelyn. English. In France, this is a masculine name, but in English, it has been neutral since the 20th century. Meaning "The Germanic tribe of the Geats or the Goths." Neutral variants: Jocelin.

Jody. English. A neutral name popularized in the 20th century. Possibly derived from names such as Judy or Joseph. Also short for other names beginning with the letter J. Keywords: two syllables

Johnie or Johnnie. English. Neutral form of the English masculine name John, from Latin masculine name Iohannes, from Greek masculine name Ioannes, from the Hebrew masculine name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן). Meaning "God is gracious."

Jojo. English. Neutral short form of of Joseph, Jolene, and other names that begin with Jo. Keywords: two syllables

Jools. English. Neutral short form of neutral Jules, masculine Julian, or feminine Julia. From the Latin masculine name Julius. Meaning uncertain, possibly "Downy-bearded," or "From the god Jupiter." Keywords: one syllable.

Jordan (יַרְדֵן). English, French, Macedonian, and Serbian. Meaning "The river that flows between the countries of Jordan and Israel, where Jesus was baptized." Variants: Jordi, Jordie, Jordyn. Keywords: Biblical, Christian, two syllables.

Jordence. English, modern. From a combination of the names Jordan and Cadence.

Jorryn. English, modern. From a combination of the names Jory and Torin.

Jory. English. From the Cornish form of the name George, meaning "Farmer."

José. Spanish. Usually masculine, but in Spanish-speaking countries, this is also used as part of a double name for girls. From the Hebrew masculine name Joseph (יוֹסֵף). Meaning "He will add." Keywords: Biblical, Christian, Jewish, masculine inclined, two syllables

Joss. English. Short form of the English neutral name Jocelyn, which see. Meaning "The Germanic tribe of the Geats or Goths." Keywords: one syllable

Jothi (ஜோதி). Tamil. From the Sanskrit neutral name Jyoti (ज्योती). Meaning "Light." Keywords: neutral inclined, two syllables

Jourdain. French. A form of the name Jordan.

Journey. English, modern. Meaning "Travel." Variants: Jurnee, Jurnie, Journee, and Journi.

Jovany. American, modern. American spelling of the Italian name Giovanni. Variants: Jovani, Jovanny, Jovanni.

Joweese. Seneca Native American. Meaning "Chirping bird."

Joy-Againe. English, Puritan. A name given to a child after losing a previous child. Keywords: birth order, emotions, happiness, three syllables, two words

Joyce. English. From the masculine Josse, from masculine Iudocus, from Breton masculine Judoc. Meaning "Lord." keywords: nobility, one syllable, power

Ju. Chinese. Meaning "Chrysanthemum," or other meanings, depending on the characters used to write it with the same pronunciation. Keywords: one syllable

Jubilation. English, Puritan. Meaning "Rejoicing."

Judaea. English. Meaning "Land of the descendants of Judah."

Jude. Variant or short form of Judas or Judith. Notable nonbinary people by this name include activist and model Jude Guaitamacchi.

Juke. American, modern. From the African-American slang, meaning "Dance suggestively," which is the origin of the word jukebox.

Jules. Neutral short form of the names Julia and Julian, which derive from Julius. Notable nonbinary people with this name include activist and model Jules Guaitamacchi. Nonbinary characters in fiction with this name include Jules in the novel Finna by Nino Cipri.

Julian. From the Roman name Iulianus, which was derived from Julius.

July. English. Meaning "Born in the month of July."

Jumeaux. French. Meaning "Twins that are two boys, or twins that are a boy and a girl."

Jumoke. African, Yoruba. Short for names such as Olajumoke or Adejumoke.

Jun 1. Chinese. Meaning "King," or other meanings, depending on the characters used to write it with the same pronunciation. 2. Korean. Meaning "Talented," or other meanings, depending on the hanja used to write it with the same pronunciation. 3. (じゅん). Japanese. Meaning "Order" (順), "Abiding" (遵), "Associate" (准), "Season" (旬), or other meanings depending on kanji spelling.

Juneau. French. From the place surname or place name. Meaning "Young."

Juno. Latin. Meaning “Young woman”. Juno was the goddess of marriage in Roman mythology. Notable nonbinary people with this name include Juno Mitchell and Juno Roche. Nonbinary characters in fiction bearing this name include Juno Steel in The Penumbra Podcast.

Jupiter. Latin. Meaning "The thunder god, Jupiter."

Justice. English. Meaning "A judge," or "Fairness."

Justy. English. Neutral short form of masculine Justin and feminine Justine.

Juri (じゅり). Japanese. Meaning "Acceptance" (受理), "Tree village" (樹里) or other meanings depending on kanji spelling.

Juul. Dutch. Neutral short form of feminine Julia and masculine Julius.

Jyler. English, modern. Variant of the name Tyler. Keywords: modern, two syllables

Jyoti (ज्योती). Indian, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, and Nepali. From Sanskrit, meaning "Light." In Telugu: Jyothi (జ్యోతి), and Malayalam: Jyothi (ജ്യോതി). Keywords: neutral inclined, two syllables

Jyrgal (Жыргал). Kyrgyz. Meaning "Happiness."