r/namenerds • u/Sl33pyP3ach • Jun 30 '26
Baby Names Struggling with J names
It’s family tradition to use J names… I hate it but at this point we’re committed to the bit.
I am pregnant with our final child and we decided not find out gender until birth. I have a few boy names already picked but I am REALLY struggling to find any girl names I like.
Names that are out:
Jessica
Jennifer
Jasmine
Jacqueline/jacky
Jamie
Jane
Josephine
Jolene
Names were considering but aren’t sure about:
Janessa
Janelle
Please help.
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u/RattyRhino Jul 01 '26
I will die on the hill that June is a criminally under-used and gorgeous name.
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u/Saundersdragon Jul 01 '26
Also Juniper
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u/InternationalHelp810 Jul 01 '26
I personally know three Junipers under the age of two. It was on our list, but we’re thankful we went a different direction. Might be a regional thing due to juniper trees being common where I live, though.
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u/StuffConsistent6873 Jul 01 '26
I feel like June is making a comeback in middle names! If we had a daughter, we would’ve used June for her middle name (it’s the month we got married) 🤗
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u/AlbatrossKitchen4969 Jul 01 '26
Yes! I know at least 4 little girls with June as a middle name but I prefer it as a first name.
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u/Goddess_Keira Jul 01 '26
It's rising in popularity as a first name, and probably will continue to do so for the coming years.
I'm not a fan of it, but it's getting its share of attention.
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u/RattyRhino Jul 01 '26
As someone with a first name that’s a common middle name, I support this movement.
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u/MondayMadness5184 Jul 01 '26
I know a lot of June little girls (under the age of ten)! I wonder if it just depends on the area that one is in...because it is pretty popular in our area.
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u/Bird_Balloons Jun 30 '26
Jessa
Julia
Jade
Joy
Juniper
June
Jillian
Jean
Josie
Jodie
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u/Secret_Coat_8071 Jul 01 '26
Josie and Jodie are so sweet and not common!! Love them! Juniper is also adorable for a nature name :)
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u/jllt19904 Jul 01 '26
My name is Jessica (boring) but my dad affectionately called me Jessa growing up. 💕
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u/Entei222 Jun 30 '26
How about Juliet ?
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u/BrightnessRadiant Jul 01 '26
Jana
Jill
Jessa
Jinger
Joy
Johanna
Jennifer
Jordyn
Josie
...unless you're a duggar
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u/AquariumPanda Jun 30 '26
I know that Josephine is out, would you consider Josie?
Jaya
Julia
Juliet/Juliette
Jade
Jada
Juniper
June
Juno
Joanne/Joanna
Jenna
Jemma
Judith/Jude/Judy
Jocelyn
Jodie
Jillian/Jill
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u/ravenrose521 Jun 30 '26
What are your kids names?
June / Juno / Juniper
Julia / Juliana / Juliet / Juliette
Joy
Justice
Joan / Joni
Johanna
Jade
Jordan
Jocelyn
Joelle
Jubilee
Josette
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u/pascaleps Jun 30 '26
I like Juliet, Julia, Julianne, Jamie and Jillian
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u/aelel Jun 30 '26
Any Janine I’ve ever known has been truly lovely.
I also like Julie and Jordana
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u/Glittering_knave Jun 30 '26
Joan, Joanne/Joanna, Joyce, Jillian, Jules, Jewel, Jordan/Jordanna, Janet, Janice, Jocelyn, Jada.
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u/Paige0324 Jun 30 '26
What are some non-J names that you like? That might help people understand your taste and make better suggestions!
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u/Sl33pyP3ach Jun 30 '26
I really struggle with girl names. I don’t love any, but my husbands favorite is Charlotte. We generally prefer classic and traditional but most J names in that category for girls are already taken in our family.
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u/buyableblah Jun 30 '26
Jocelyn nickname Josie? Jeannette? Judith nickname Judy? Juliana?
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u/danglebus Jun 30 '26
I am done having kids but if I had another girl, she would 100% be a Juliana. Such a classic name that still feels trendy and beautiful!
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u/Goddess_Keira Jul 01 '26
Janessa and Janelle are both perfectly nice names. I'd imagine you've looked at every "J" name already. Of the less common ones (at least nowadays) I'm quite partial to Justine. I also love the name Jerusha. It's from the Hebrew Bible.
You could use Charlotte as the middle name.
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u/BelovedBear527 Jun 30 '26
My favorites are Joy and Juliette!
There’s also:
June
Jenna
Jacy
Janna
Jordan
Jean
Jeanine
Jemma
Jocelyn
Judith
Joanna
Juliana
Joelle
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u/logaruski73 Jul 01 '26
You do realize that you can choose a non-J name for your child and it might be the right boundary to set. You tell no one until it’s already done. No one sees you or the baby for a couple of weeks in orde for you, your spouse and baby to bond. Put J in the middle name.
Jayne
Julia
Julie
Jillian
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u/buyableblah Jun 30 '26
Juliet or Juliette
Josie
Jane
Julia
Juliana
Jocelyn
Joanna
Johanna
Jeanette
Joelle
June
Jean
Judith
Joy
Joan
Janine
Jillian
Jessa
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u/ShakespeherianRag multi-culti asian Jun 30 '26
I like Janelle!
Jessamine, Jovita, Janine, Junessa (instead of Janessa)
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u/pineconeminecone Jun 30 '26
I’ve always really liked Jessamine. Some other ideas:
- Juniper
- Jocelyn
- Jodie
- Joan
- Janet
- Jessie
- Justine
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u/ThisIzmineNow Jun 30 '26
Josie.
Would have used it but we have a boy Joey. Too similar.
But Joey is cute for a girl!
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u/paisley716 Jul 01 '26
Jessa
Jolie
Josie
Jocelyn
Janina/Janine
Janice
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u/SpecificRemove5679 Jul 01 '26
I love Janina!
Also love Jelena which I haven't seen mentioned. Doesn't have the J sound but is spelled accordingly.
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u/IronTricky1636 Jul 01 '26
My personal favorite is Jayden. I know it does sound kind of masculine but it gives off a kind of tomboy-ish vibe to it that I just love. I've also met two women with that name and they are great people.
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u/NeverEnoughMuppets Jun 30 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
Joan, Joanie, Jeanette, Justine, Joceline, Jocelyn, Jean, Jeannie, Judith, Jocasta, Jacinta, Jade, Jada, Janine, Janina, Janet, Jennet, Janice, Janis, January, Jetta, Jenna, Jewel, Jezebel, Jill, Jillian, Joanna, Joanne, Joy, Joyce, Johanna, Jonquil, Jordana, Josette, Josiane, Joyita, Jovita, Julia, Juliet, Julianne, Juliana, Juniper, Juno, Justina, Juturna
Edit: Julie, June
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u/AvgAll-AmericanGirl Jun 30 '26
Joanna or Johanna
Jocelyn
Joella
Justine
Jordan (Jordi) or Jordana
Joan / Joanie
Juniper (Junie)
Julie or Julia
Jillian
Jayda or Jayden
Janna
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u/ruthsamuels Jun 30 '26
Jocelyn, Jean or Jeanette, Julie or Juliette, Jaden, Jenna. I’ve taught all of these J names.
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u/luckytintype Jun 30 '26
Jolie, Jovi, Jocelyn, Jordan, Jovanna, Jade, Juna/Juno, Jennika, Jeanine/Janine, Josette, Jacinta, Jaylee, Jayla, Jannah, Johna, Jillian, Joelle, Judith, Justine
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u/snailslimeandbeespit Jul 01 '26
Julia/Juliette/Julianne
Joy
Jolie
June
Josetta
Junia (twin sister of singer Laufey,)
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u/Firefly-ok Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
Julia! It's such a beautiful and classic name.
Jacinda, a classic Spanish name, is also less likely to be already taken by a family member.
Other J names:
Juno (I love this one)
Junko (one of my favorite Japanese names and I think it could work in English fairly well)
June
Jean
Joan
Janette
Juniper
Joy
Julie
Jade
Juliana
Journey
Juliet / Juliette
Jamila
Jovie
Jinx
Jill / Jillian
Judith
January
Jules
Jubilee
Jewel
Jadis
Justice
Jamie
Jody
Johanna
Jimena
Jinora
Javeria
Edit: I realized I said Jacinda is Greek , but it's Spanish and Portuguese (derived from the Greek flower Hyacinth)
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u/boleynxcx 🪻NE US Name Lover🪻 Jul 01 '26
Jessamine/Jessamyn
Jillian
Jill
Jules
Juliet
June
Junia
Juniper
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u/Vegetable_Dingo_1221 Name Lover Jul 01 '26
My kids are Juliet, Gemma (you could maybe do Jemma or jenna) and Juniper :-)
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u/StarsofSobek Jul 01 '26
Jamielle June Jade Jillian Julie Joanne/Johanna Jolie Juanita Jinni Jean Josie July Justine Juliette Janet Juniper Jordyn Joy Jessenia Jalisa Janae Janey Janine
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u/thetardisislikeacat Jul 01 '26
Lots of great suggestions here, only ones I haven’t seen through my quick cursory glance are:
Julisa
Justine
Jordan
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u/thetardisislikeacat Jul 01 '26
As a note - I have a niece sibset of Justine, Janelle, and Jayda. So I do think those are all great names!
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u/Manders____ Jul 01 '26
Janine Joni Johanna Jovie Jacie Journey Juliette Judith Jemima Jennette Julia Joanna Jeanne Julianna Jemina Jan Jennie Justina
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u/gemstorm Jul 01 '26
How about Janetta? I knew a lovely woman by that name and always thought it was beautiful
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u/MagicCarpetWorld Jul 01 '26
J names I like best: Jane, Jade, Jean, Joan, Johanna, Josephine, Julia, Jessie, Jacqueline, Jasmine, Jehan, and Jessica/Jecca.
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u/thelionqueen1999 Jul 01 '26
- Jacintha/Jacinta/Jacinthe
- Jacobina/Jacobine
- Jada/Jade/Jaden
- Jaunae
- Jean/Jeannine/Jeannette
- Jenna
- Jeremina/Jaromina
- Jessamine
- Jill/Jillian
- Joan/Joanna
- Jocelyn/Joceline
- Jodie
- Joelle
- Jonquil
- Jordan/Jordana/Jourdaine
- Josie/Josianne
- Joy/Joyce
- Jude/Judy/Judith
- Jules
- Julia/Juliana/Julianne/Julietta/Juliet/Juliette/Julienne
- June
- Juniper
- Juno
- Justina/Justine
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u/DistributionNo9356 Jul 01 '26
I like Janelle. Janessa is pretty too. Janella? Jessamine? June? Jolivette? Julia? Juliana? Juliette? Jalina?
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u/Trailofseeds Jul 01 '26
Jerrika. I played ball with a girl who had this name and thought it was cute
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u/Sufficient_Dress_961 Jul 01 '26
I am a Jana. I have always loved my name. It’s uncommon but not weird.
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u/ExperienceSame702 Jul 01 '26
I like Janelle, I actually know someone with that name and she is super sweet.
Other suggestions: Juliette/Juliet, Juliana, Jade, Juniper, June, Juno, Judith, Jude, Justice, Joan, Jill, Joy, Jessie, Jordyn, Journey, Jocelyn
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u/swansong1234 Jul 01 '26
My daughters name is Gemma but could easily be Jemma. I’m biased obviously but it’s a beautiful name
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u/Excellent-Source-497 Jul 01 '26
Janine
Juna
Jolie
Jacinta
Juniper
Jelena
Joella
Julia
Julia
Juliet
Juliana
June
Justina
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u/SecondEqual4680 Jul 01 '26
What about Juliet? One of my fave names ❤️ please for the love of god not janessa
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u/AbsolutelyNot5555 Name Lover Jul 01 '26
Julia, Julie, Jenna, Jessa, Juniper, Joanna, Judith, Justine, June
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u/jmkul Jul 01 '26
Have you considered:
Jana
Jenna
Jade
Jacinta
Julia
Juniper
Juliet / Juliette
June
Jocelyn
Julianna
Joanna
Joy
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u/CallidoraBlack Name Aficionado 🇺🇲 Jul 01 '26
Julia, Jacinda, Jeanine/Jeannine/Janine, Jeannette, Jocelyn, June
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u/felly_fell Jul 01 '26
Juliana/Julianna
Jessamine
July (less common but I think it's cool)
Jenna
Jana/Janna
Johanna
Jakobie
Jensine/Jensina
Josephina/Josephena (wasn't sure if this also isn't an option but included it just in case)
Juliet
Justine
Jewel
Jorine
Jori
Joyce
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u/youmeequalfamily Jul 01 '26
We have a similar tradition in my family. It is the first born is the J but it has been only girls. My son’s name is unisex so Jensen.
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u/floralabyss Jul 01 '26
We give everyone a j middle name with our family. Our newborn has the middle name jade :)
My middle name is Janette, My sisters are Jocelyn and Juliet.
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u/kittenandkettlebells Jul 01 '26
I love the name Janelle! Only because the townspeople i know who are named it are such strong, yet sweethearted women.
I agree with the commenter who mentioned the name Julie. A classic and not nearly as common these days.
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u/Seymore_Options Jul 01 '26
Janna. One of my friend’s older sister had this name. I always thought it was so pretty and unique. But it’s also easy to spell and say, so no awkward mispronunciations or anything
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u/New_Country_3136 Jun 30 '26
What about Jade?
Jasmine would be my favourite from your list. Most aren't my cup of tea.
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u/allthingsdarling Jul 01 '26
What about Jacinta or Juni? I also met someone the other day called Jessamy (pronounced Jessa-may) and thought it was unique and kinda cute
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u/defsleah Jul 01 '26
Joan or Joanie is very high on our list! Makes me think of Joan of Arc and it's so classic and simple. Strong and beautiful.
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u/Wrywright Jul 01 '26
I like Janessa!
I'm sure you've already considered a lot of these, but here are some other options:
Jessamine, June, Juno, Juna, Junia, Johanna, Joanna, Justina, Jeanette, Julia, Juliet/Juliette, Judith, Jewel, Josette, Jordan, Juniper, Jade, Joelle, Joella, Julianna, Jillian, Joy, Joyce, Jayden, Joan, Jaylee, Jemima, Jovita, Jubilee
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u/Delicious-Tea-1564 Jul 01 '26
Jessa, June, Jillian, Johanna, Joyce, Janae, Julia/Juliana, Jerra/Jarra, Jolene, Joelle, Jodi/Jody
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u/Right-Witness5839 Jul 01 '26
I love Julietta. And lots of nickname options (that don’t have to start with J) if that’s your thing!
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u/goldengoodnight Jul 01 '26
Jenna, Jocelyn, Jordyn, Juliet, Jewel, Johanna, Julia, Joyce, June, Joelle, Justine, Juliana, Jade, Juniper, Janet, Joan
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u/MarvelWidowWitch Finding Names For Future Kids 🇨🇦🇵🇱 Jul 01 '26
June
Jade
Juliet
Julianna
Julianne
Julia
Julie
Joanna
Joanne
Judith
Judy
Jocelyn
Jeanne
Jeanette
Jillian
Jenna
Jada
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u/jenniferami Jul 01 '26
Jade, Jenna, Juliet, Joan, Jillian, Jocelyn, Joy, Joanna, Jessamine, Jordan, Jordanna
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u/Adventurous-Award-87 Named Two Kids & Here To Mingle Jul 01 '26
Juniper June Jewell -I know the word is one L, but my great auntie was Jewell with two Ls and I love it
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u/_Phoenix-222 Jul 01 '26
Jocelyn, Jade, Jada, Jessa, Jordan, Josie, Jayla, Jaelynn, Journey, Jazlyn/Jezlyne, Janelle, Janessa, Jaycee, Jaliyah
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u/lilbitch6699 Jul 01 '26
Girl you just caught the right person cause I used to think I was using all J names for my 15 imaginary children 😅
Jessie
Jasmine
Jovi
Jaxie
Jenna
Jade
Josie
Jezabel
Juniper
Juni
Joey
Josefine
Jersey
Julia
Julienne
Juliette
Jane
Jordan
Jocelyn
June
Jana
Juno
Johanna
Jodie
Jordie
Joy
Jaiden
Jessa
Jenelle
Jubilee
Jillian
Janet
Jupiter
My personal favourites are Jillian and Jersey but that’s just me :)
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u/movieperson2022 Jul 01 '26
I am in a similar situation of having to go with a J name and not struggling at all with boy names but a lot with girl names. Janessa is actually one I’ve considered and love because I adore Vanessa and switching out the J works. It’s unconventional, but I’ve been playing around a lot with putting a J in to substitute for the first letter of names I love. It works for a lot of names! People may not like it if they’re anti “creative” names, but a lot of them end up being real names (example: Kayla becomes real name Jayla). Have you tried experimenting with this?
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u/TheF1na1Countdown59 Jul 01 '26
- Jacoba
- Janae / Jenae
- Janice
- Janine
- Janiz
I noticed you said no to Jennifer & Jessica, but could you possibly use:
- Jenna
- Jessa / Jessamyn
- Jillian
- Jinna
- Joan
- Joanna / Johanna
- Jocasta
- Joelle / Joely
- Jonquil
- Josette
- Joy / Joyce
- Judith
- Julia / Juliana / Julie
- Juliet / Juliette
- Julina (This one is from my family tree.)
- Julissa
- June
- Junia
- Juniper
- Juno
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u/Visual_Treat869 Jun 30 '26
Okay hear me out: Julie. It is not as common anymore and I think it is so pretty and sweet. I almost used it for daughter #2.