75+ Japanese Names That Start With “J”
The letter ‘J,’ with its distinctive curve at the bottom, reflects a turning point—an upward journey toward success. This jaunty style of J can inspire parents to choose a J name, hoping their little one will achieve great heights.
J has long been the most popular initial for boys’ names and has ruled the naming charts for years. Sure, its popularity makes it feel overdone now, but that doesn’t mean you have to ditch your love for J names, as you’ve got Japanese ones, offering unique and meaningful choices.
While Japanese names that start with J don’t offer so many options, the ones out there are quite unique. These names can mean many things, allowing parents to pick one that matches their desired meaning while sticking to their favorite J theme. Whether you’re preparing for your little him or her, we’ve cherry-picked some stunner J-names for your little one. And we hope you’ll find the right Japanese J name, right here!
Japanese Male Names That Start With J
Whether you have a family tradition of naming newborns with J names or you’re just drawn to the way J curves upward, Japanese names for boys starting with J are what will keep your family pattern going while adding a unique twist. Many of these names carry as beautiful meanings as your little one, making them an ideal match. So, start a lifetime of memories with these carefully selected names for your little him.
- Jun
- Meaning: Pure, Genuine
- Pronunciation: Joon
- Kanji: 純
- Juro
- Meaning: Tenth son
- Pronunciation: Juu-roh
- Kanji: 十郎
- Junichi
- Meaning: Pure first son
- Pronunciation: Jun-ee-chee
- Kanji: 純一
- Joji
- Meaning: Constant, steady second son
- Pronunciation: Joh-jee
- Kanji: 常二
- Juzo
- Meaning: Tenth three
- Pronunciation: Juu-zoh
- Kanji: 十三
- Jiro
- Meaning: Second son
- Pronunciation: Jee-roh
- Kanji: 二郎
- Jinpei
- Meaning: Peaceful
- Pronunciation: Jin-pei
- Kanji: 甚平
- Junta
- Meaning: Pure and thick/abundant
- Pronunciation: Jun-tah
- Kanji: 純太
- Jubei
- Meaning: Ten-fold
- Pronunciation: Juu-bei
- Kanji: 十兵
- Junzo
- Meaning: Pure creation
- Pronunciation: Jun-zoh
- Kanji: 純造
- Jirou
- Meaning: Next son
- Pronunciation: Jee-roh-uu
- Kanji: 二朗
- Junya
- Meaning: Pure arrow
- Pronunciation: Jun-yah
- Kanji: 純矢
- Junpei
- Meaning: Pure peace
- Pronunciation: Jun-pei
- Kanji: 純平
- Jiyuki
- Meaning: Happiness of freedom
- Pronunciation: Jee-yu-kee
- Kanji: 自由喜
- Junji
- Meaning: Pure second
- Pronunciation: Jun-jee
- Kanji: 純二
- Jitsuo
- Meaning: Real man
- Pronunciation: Jit-su-oh
- Kanji: 実男
- Jotaro
- Meaning: Helpful eldest son
- Pronunciation: Joh-tah-roh
- Kanji: 助太郎
- Junnosuke
- Meaning: Pure helper
- Pronunciation: Jun-no-su-keh
- Kanji: 純之介
- Jiyori
- Meaning: Freedom and truth
- Pronunciation: Jee-yoh-ree
- Kanji: 自由理
- Jushiro
- Meaning: Ten and four
- Pronunciation: Juu-shi-roh
- Kanji: 十四郎
- Jumpei
- Meaning: Pure soldier
- Pronunciation: Jum-pei
- Kanji: 純兵
- Jiyume
- Meaning: Dream of freedom
- Pronunciation: Jee-yu-meh
- Kanji: 自由夢
- Junki
- Meaning: Pure brightness
- Pronunciation: Jun-kee
- Kanji: 純輝
- Jiei
- Meaning: Self-sustaining
- Pronunciation: Jee-ei
- Kanji: 自営
- Jitsu
- Meaning: Truth
- Pronunciation: Jit-su
- Kanji: 実
- Jizen
- Meaning: Before
- Pronunciation: Jee-zen
- Kanji: 事前
- Judo
- Meaning: Gentle way
- Pronunciation: Juu-doh
- Kanji: 柔道
- Junko
- Meaning: Pure child
- Pronunciation: Jun-koh
- Kanji: 純子
- Jikai
- Meaning: Next time
- Pronunciation: Jee-kai
- Kanji: 次回
- Jiko
- Meaning: Self
- Pronunciation: Jee-koh
- Kanji: 自己
Girls Japanese Names That Start With J
Your sweet, rosy-cheeked girl deserves a name as beautiful as her glowing charm. If both your and your partner’s names happen to start with J, why not keep the J-trend going and pick a cute Japanese name that starts with J for her? These names offer a fun way to create a special family connection! So, write the first page of your little girl’s story with these meaningful names we’ve gathered.
- Juka
- Meaning: Fragrant flower
- Pronunciation: Ju-kah
- Kanji: 樹花
- Juri
- Meaning: Woven jasmine
- Pronunciation: Ju-ree
- Kanji: 樹理
- Juemi
- Meaning: Blooming beauty
- Pronunciation: Ju-eh-mee
- Kanji: 樹笑美
- Josai
- Meaning: Castle of serenity
- Pronunciation: Joh-sai
- Kanji: 城彩
- Jinrei
- Meaning: Bell sound
- Pronunciation: Jin-rey
- Kanji: 鈴麗
- Jinka
- Meaning: Quiet flower
- Pronunciation: Jin-kah
- Kanji: 静花
- Jitsumi
- Meaning: Truth and beauty
- Pronunciation: Jit-su-mee
- Kanji: 実美
- Jumika
- Meaning: Braided flower
- Pronunciation: Ju-mee-kah
- Kanji: 珠美花
- Jukika
- Meaning: Tree of chrysanthemums
- Pronunciation: Ju-kee-kah
- Kanji: 樹菊花
- Jouka
- Meaning: Cherry castle
- Pronunciation: Joh-u-kah
- Kanji: 城桜
- Jitsuka
- Meaning: Real flower
- Pronunciation: Jit-su-kah
- Kanji: 実花
- Jurika
- Meaning: Village jasmine
- Pronunciation: Ju-ree-kah
- Kanji: 樹里花
- Jiyoka
- Meaning: Freedom flower
- Pronunciation: Jee-yoh-kah
- Kanji: 自由花
- Johana
- Meaning: Castle flower
- Pronunciation: Joh-ha-nah
- Kanji: 城華
- Juzuki
- Meaning: Peaceful moon
- Pronunciation: Ju-zu-kee
- Kanji: 樹月
- Jiyumi
- Meaning: Arrow of freedom
- Pronunciation: Jee-yu-mee
- Kanji: 自由美
- Jiyuka
- Meaning: Flower of freedom
- Pronunciation: Jee-yu-kah
- Kanji: 自由花
- Jubana
- Meaning: Plum flower
- Pronunciation: Ju-bah-nah
- Kanji: 樹花
- Jakura
- Meaning: Tranquil storehouse
- Pronunciation: Jah-ku-rah
- Kanji: 寂蔵
- Jitsuna
- Meaning: Summer truth
- Pronunciation: Jit-su-nah
- Kanji: 実夏
- Juhime
- Meaning: Tree princess
- Pronunciation: Ju-hee-meh
- Kanji: 樹姫
- Jubara
- Meaning: Rose tree
- Pronunciation: Ju-bah-rah
- Kanji: 樹薔薇
- Jutaka
- Meaning: Abundant flower
- Pronunciation: Ju-tah-kah
- Kanji: 樹高花
- Jiyuna
- Meaning: Free vegetables
- Pronunciation: Jee-yu-nah
- Kanji: 自由菜
- Jomika
- Meaning: Beautiful castle
- Pronunciation: Joh-mee-kah
- Kanji: 城美花
- Jinoka
- Meaning: Field flower
- Pronunciation: Jee-noh-kah
- Kanji: 地野花
- Jetsumi
- Meaning: Moon beauty
- Pronunciation: Jet-su-mee
- Kanji: 月美
- Jibana
- Meaning: Earth flower
- Pronunciation: Jee-bah-nah
- Kanji: 地花
- Jutsuki
- Meaning: Tree moon
- Pronunciation: Ju-tsu-kee
- Kanji: 樹月
- Jiyoko
- Meaning: Free child
- Pronunciation: Jee-yoh-koh
- Kanji: 自由子
Japanese Last Names That Start With J
Whether you’re thinking of adding a J twist to your baby’s name or hopping on the trend of turning last names into first names, we’ve rounded up some Japanese last names beginning with J to bring you joy! No matter why you’re leaning towards last J names, explore our curated collection below to honor your little one with something outstanding!
- Jōgai
- Meaning: Outside the castle
- Pronunciation: Joh-gai
- Kanji: 城外
- Jakugi
- Meaning: Tranquil tree
- Pronunciation: Ja-ku-gi
- Kanji: 寂木
- Jukumo
- Meaning: Seasoned clouds
- Pronunciation: Ju-ku-mo
- Kanji: 熟雲
- Jotsui
- Meaning: Castle crossing
- Pronunciation: Jo-tsu-i
- Kanji: 城通
- Jagawa
- Meaning: Snake River
- Pronunciation: Ja-ga-wa
- Kanji: 蛇川
- Juboku
- Meaning: Forest trees
- Pronunciation: Ju-bo-ku
- Kanji: 樹木
- Johaku
- Meaning: Castle estate
- Pronunciation: Jo-ha-ku
- Kanji: 城伯
- Jitsugi
- Meaning: Truth tree
- Pronunciation: Ji-tsu-gi
- Kanji: 実木
- Josawa
- Meaning: Castle marsh
- Pronunciation: Jo-sa-wa
- Kanji: 城沢
- Jōshima
- Meaning: Castle island
- Pronunciation: Joh-shi-ma
- Kanji: 城島
- Jozumi
- Meaning: Castle residence
- Pronunciation: Jo-zu-mi
- Kanji: 城住
- Jōbashi
- Meaning: Castle bridge
- Pronunciation: Joh-ba-shi
- Kanji: 城橋
- Jūbata
- Meaning: Ten fields
- Pronunciation: Juu-ba-ta
- Kanji: 十畑
- Jōchi
- Meaning: Castle path
- Pronunciation: Joh-chi
- Kanji: 城地
- Jakuno
- Meaning: Peaceful field
- Pronunciation: Ja-ku-no
- Kanji: 寂野
- Jūmoto
- Meaning: Ten origins
- Pronunciation: Juu-mo-to
- Kanji: 十本
- Jizawa
- Meaning: Ground marsh
- Pronunciation: Ji-za-wa
- Kanji: 地沢
- Jūtani
- Meaning: Ten valleys
- Pronunciation: Juu-ta-ni
- Kanji: 十谷
- Jōdate
- Meaning: Castle shield
- Pronunciation: Joh-da-te
- Kanji: 城楯
- Jikumo
- Meaning: Earth clouds
- Pronunciation: Ji-ku-mo
- Kanji: 地雲
Things You Must Know About Japanese Names Starting With J
The J sound in Japanese comes from the way Chinese characters influenced the language and how foreign words were adopted. That’s why some native Japanese names start with J, though they are rare and unique. The sole letter J doesn’t have any special meaning culturally, but when it starts a Japanese name, it can add cultural depth and beautiful meanings.
Well-liked and hyped Japanese names starting with J include Jun (純), meaning “pure” or “obedient”; Jiro (次郎), meaning “second son”; Junya (純也), meaning “pure” and “excellence”; and Jin (仁), signifying “benevolence” or “compassion.” These names used to be less common back in the day in Japan, but have now gained popularity in modern times.
While these names start with the letter J in their romanized forms, the Japanese sounds are usually represented by the kana じ (ji) or ぢ (ji). These words use a soft J pronunciation like you hear in the word ‘azure.’ Many parents also draw inspiration from anime, manga, or famous Japanese celebs when picking J names, hoping to pass on that vibe.
Our recommendation: If you’re considering any of these names for your little one, we recommend doing a bit more research on their meanings.
Conclusion
Japanese parents get inspired by many sorts of things when choosing a baby name that starts with J, like anime, manga characters, or Japanese famous people. While J names aren’t super common in Japan, they’re still used, and they often carry just as much meaning and depth as any other Japanese name.
Names like Jun, meaning “pure,” or Juka, meaning “fragrant flower,” can provide a sense of identity and inspiration as your child grows. If you want a Japanese name starting with J that has cultural significance and an even more beautiful meaning, Junko (純子) is what you’ll be drawn to.
These names are pretty unique right now, so you should pick one for your little one before they are listed on the list of popular Japanese names someday! If none of the Japanese J names feel like the perfect fit (though, it’s unlikely), you can blend up different kanjis to craft a unique name no one else has.
Every parent knows when they’ve found ‘the’ name, that moment when your heart whispers ‘yes.’ We hope this collection has helped you find that special moment!
If you’re looking for Japanese names that start with a specific letter, charming K names, stylish S names, amazing A names, yummy Y names, heartfelt H names, meaningful M names, and timeless T names offer a variety of great choices.