IVORYm & fAfrican AmericanFrom the English word for the hard, creamy-white substance which comes from elephant tusks and was formerly used to produce piano keys.
IVYfEnglishFrom the English word for the climbing plant that has small yellow flowers. It is ultimately derived from Old English
ifig.
IXCHELfMayan Mythology, Native American, MayanMeans "rainbow lady" in Mayan. Ixchel was the Maya goddess of the earth, the moon, and medicine. She was often depicted with a snake in her hair and crossbones embroidered on her skirt.
IZANAMIfFar Eastern MythologyMeans "female who invites" in Japanese. In Japanese mythology she was a creator goddess, the wife of
Izanagi. She died giving birth to Kagututi, the god of fire.
IZAROfBasqueMeaning unknown, from the name of a small island off the Spanish coast in the Bay of Biscay.
IZUMIfJapaneseFrom Japanese
泉 (izumi) meaning "fountain, spring". This name can also be constructed from other combinations of kanji.
JACKIEm & fEnglishDiminutive of
JACK or
JACQUELINE. A notable bearer was baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919-1972), the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball.
JADA (1)fEnglishPossibly an elaborated form of
JADE. This name came into general use in the 1960s, and was popularized in the 1990s by actress Jada Pinkett Smith (1971-).
JADEf & mEnglish, FrenchFrom the name of the precious stone that is often used in carvings. It is derived from Spanish
(piedra de la) ijada meaning "(stone of the) flank", relating to the belief that jade could cure renal colic. As a given name, it came into general use during the 1970s. It was initially unisex, though it is now mostly feminine.
JADENm & fEnglish (Modern)An invented name, using the popular
aden suffix sound found in such names as
Braden,
Hayden and
Aidan. This name first became common in American in the 1990s when similar-sounding names were increasing in popularity. It is sometimes considered a variant of
JADON.
JADWIGAfPolishPolish form of
HEDWIG. This was the name of a 14th-century ruling queen of Poland who has recently been canonized as a saint.
JAE (1)m & fKoreanFrom Sino-Korean
才 (jae) meaning "talent, ability" or
財 (jae) meaning "wealth, riches", as well as other hanja characters with the same pronunciation. It usually occurs in combination with another character, though it is sometimes used as a stand-alone name.
JAELfBiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
יָעֵל (Ya'el) meaning "ibex, mountain goat". This name appears in the Old Testament belonging to the wife of
Heber the Kenite. After Sisera, the captain of the Canaanite army, was defeated in battle by
Deborah and
Barak he took refuge in Heber's tent. When he fell asleep Jael killed him by hammering a tent peg into his head.
JAIME (2)fEnglishVariant of
JAMIE. The character Jaime Sommers from the television series 'The Bionic Woman' (1976-1978) helped to popularize the name. It can sometimes be given in reference to the French phrase
j'aime meaning "I love", though it is pronounced differently.
JAMIEm & fScottish, EnglishOriginally a Lowland Scots diminutive of
JAMES. Since the late 19th century it has also been used as a feminine form.
JANEfEnglishMedieval English form of
Jehanne, an Old French feminine form of
Iohannes (see
JOHN). This became the most common feminine form of
John in the 17th century, surpassing
Joan.
... [more] JANICEfEnglishElaborated form of
JANE, created by Paul Leicester Ford for his novel 'Janice Meredith' (1899).
JASMINEfEnglish, FrenchFrom the English word for the climbing plant with fragrant flowers which is used for making perfumes. It is derived from Persian
یاسمن (yasamen) (which is also a Persian name).
JAWAHIRfArabicMeans "jewels" in Arabic, ultimately from Persian
گوهر (gohar) meaning "jewel, essence".
JAWDATm & fArabicMeans "goodness, excellence", derived from Arabic
جاد (jada) meaning "to be excellent".
JAYAf & mHinduism, Tamil, Indian, Telugu, Hindi, MarathiDerived from Sanskrit
जय (jaya) meaning "victory". This is a transcription of both the feminine form
जया (an epithet of the Hindu goddess
Durga) and the masculine form
जय (borne by several characters in Hindu texts). As a modern personal name, this transcription is both feminine and masculine in southern India, but typically only feminine in the north.
JEAN (2)fEnglish, ScottishMedieval English variant of
Jehanne (see
JANE). It was common in England and Scotland during the Middle Ages, but eventually became rare in England. It was reintroduced to the English-speaking world from Scotland in the 19th century.
JEANNEfFrench, EnglishModern French form of
Jehanne, an Old French feminine form of
Iohannes (see
JOHN). Joan of Arc is known as Jeanne d'Arc in France.
JEDIDAHfBiblicalMeans "beloved" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of the wife of King Amon of Judah and the mother of
Josiah.
JEFIMIJAfSerbianSerbian form of
EUPHEMIA. This name was adopted by a 14th-century Serbian poet (born Jelena Mrnjavčević).
JEMIMAfBiblical, EnglishMeans "dove" in Hebrew. This was the oldest of the three daughters of Job in the Old Testament. As an English name,
Jemima first became common during the Puritan era.
JENNAfEnglish, FinnishVariant of
JENNY. Use of the name was popularized in the 1980s by the character Jenna Wade on the television series 'Dallas'.
JENNIFERfEnglish, German, Dutch, Swedish, SpanishFrom a Cornish form of the Welsh name
Gwenhwyfar (see
GUINEVERE). This name has only been common outside of Cornwall since the beginning of the 20th century, after it was featured in George Bernard Shaw's play 'The Doctor's Dilemma' (1906).
JEONGf & mKoreanFrom Sino-Korean
靜 (jeong) meaning "quiet, still, gentle" or
貞 (jeong) meaning "virtuous, chaste, loyal", as well as other characters which are pronounced similarly. It usually occurs in combination with another character, though it is sometimes used as a stand-alone name.
JEONG-HUIf & mKoreanFrom Sino-Korean
正 (jeong) meaning "right, proper, correct" or
靜 (jeong) meaning "quiet, still, gentle" combined with
姬 (hui) meaning "beauty" or
熙 (hui) meaning "bright, splendid, glorious". Other combinations of hanja characters can form this name as well.
JEONG-SUKfKoreanFrom Sino-Korean
貞 (jeong) meaning "virtuous, chaste, loyal" or
正 (jeong) meaning "right, proper, correct" combined with
淑 (suk) meaning "good, pure, virtuous, charming". Other hanja combinations are possible.
JESCHAfBiblicalForm of
ISCAH found in the medieval Wycliffe Bible. This name was probably the basis for Shakespeare's created name
Jessica.
JESSAMINEfEnglish (Rare)From a variant spelling of the English word
jasmine (see
JASMINE), used also to refer to flowering plants in the cestrum family.
JESSICAfEnglish, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Italian, SpanishThis name was first used in this form by Shakespeare in his play 'The Merchant of Venice' (1596), where it belongs to the daughter of Shylock. Shakespeare probably based it on the biblical name
ISCAH, which would have been spelled
Jescha in his time. It was not commonly used as a given name until the middle of the 20th century. Notable bearers include actresses Jessica Tandy (1909-1994) and Jessica Lange (1949-).
JEUNESSEfVariousMeans "youth" in French. It is not used as a given name in France itself.
JEWELf & mEnglishIn part from the English word
jewel, a precious stone, derived from Old French
jouel, which was possibly related to
jeu "game". It is also in part from the surname
Jewel or
Jewell (a derivative of the Breton name
JUDICAËL), which was sometimes used in honour of the 16th-century bishop of Salisbury John Jewel. It has been in use as a given name since the 19th century.
JEZEBELfBiblicalFrom the Hebrew
אִיזֶבֶל ('Izevel) which probably means "where is the prince?", a ritual question spoken in ceremonies honouring
Baal. Alternatively, it may mean "not exalted". In the Old Testament Jezebel is the evil wife of
Ahab, king of Israel. After she was thrown from a window to her death her body was eaten by dogs, fulfilling
Elijah's prophecy.
JIm & fKorean (Rare)From Sino-Korean
智 (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" or other hanja characters with the same pronunciation. Although it does appear rarely as a single-character name, it is more often used in combination with another character.
JIAm & fChineseFrom Chinese
佳 (jiā) meaning "good, auspicious, beautiful",
家 (jiā) meaning "home, family", or other characters which are pronounced similarly.
JIANm & fChineseFrom Chinese
建 (jiàn) meaning "build, establish",
健 (jiàn) meaning "strong, healthy", or other characters which are pronounced in a similar fashion.
JIANGm & fChineseFrom Chinese
江 (jiāng) meaning "river, Yangtze", as well as other characters with a similar pronunciation.
JIEm & fChineseFrom Chinese
杰 (jié) meaning "heroic, outstanding" or other characters which are pronounced similarly.
JI-EUNfKoreanFrom Sino-Korean
枝 (ji) meaning "branch, limb",
知 (ji) meaning "know, perceive, comprehend" or
志 (ji) meaning "will, purpose, ambition" combined with
恩 (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity". This name can be formed by other hanja character combinations as well.
JI-HUm & fKoreanFrom Sino-Korean
智 (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" combined with
厚 (hu) meaning "thick". Other combinations of hanja characters can form this name as well.
JI-HYEfKoreanFrom a Sino-Korean compound meaning "wisdom", formed of the hanja characters
智 (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" and
慧 (hye) meaning "bright, intelligent". This name can also be formed from other character combinations.
JI-MINf & mKoreanFrom Sino-Korean
志 (ji) meaning "will, purpose, ambition" or
智 (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" combined with
旼 (min) meaning "gentle, affable",
敏 (min) meaning "quick, clever, sharp" or
珉 (min) meaning "jade, stone resembling jade". Other hanja character combinations are possible.
JINm & fChineseFrom Chinese
金 (jīn) meaning "gold, metal, money",
锦 (jǐn) meaning "tapestry, brocade, embroidered" or
津 (jīn) meaning "ferry". Other Chinese characters can form this name as well.
JINANm & fArabicMeans "garden" or "paradise" in Arabic.
JINGm & fChineseFrom Chinese
静 (jìng) meaning "quiet, still, gentle",
精 (jīng) meaning "essence, spirit",
晶 (jīng) meaning "clear, crystal" or
京 (jīng) meaning "capital city". Other characters can also form this name.
JINGYIm & fChineseFrom Chinese
静 (jìng) meaning "quiet, still, gentle" combined with
怡 (yí) meaning "joy, harmony". Other character combinations are possible as well.
JI-Uf & mKoreanFrom Sino-Korean
芝 (ji) meaning "sesame" or
志 (ji) meaning "will, purpose, ambition" combined with
雨 (u) meaning "rain" or
宇 (u) meaning "house, eaves, universe". Other combinations of hanja characters can form this name as well.
JI-YEONGf & mKoreanFrom Sino-Korean
智 (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" or
知 (ji) meaning "know, perceive, comprehend" combined with
英 (yeong) meaning "flower, petal, brave, hero" or
榮 (yeong) meaning "glory, honour, flourish, prosper". Many other hanja character combinations are possible.
JI-YUfKoreanFrom Sino-Korean
智 (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" and
裕 (yu) meaning "abundant, rich, plentiful". Other combinations of hanja characters can form this name as well.
JOAN (1)fEnglishMedieval English form of
Johanne, an Old French form of
Iohanna (see
JOANNA). This was the usual English feminine form of
John in the Middle Ages, but it was surpassed in popularity by
Jane in the 17th century.
... [more] JOANNAfEnglish, Polish, BiblicalEnglish and Polish form of Latin
Iohanna, which was derived from Greek
Ιωαννα (Ioanna), the feminine form of
Ioannes (see
JOHN). This is the spelling used in the English New Testament, where it belongs to a follower of
Jesus who is regarded as a saint. In the Middle Ages in England it was used as a Latinized form of
Joan (the usual feminine form of
John) and it became common as a given name in the 19th century.
JOCELYNf & mEnglish, FrenchFrom a Germanic masculine name, variously written as
Gaudelenus,
Gautselin,
Gauzlin, along with many other spellings. It was derived from the Germanic element
Gaut, which was from the name of the Germanic tribe the Goths, combined with a Latin diminutive suffix. The Normans brought this name to England in the form
Goscelin or
Joscelin, and it was common until the 14th century. It was revived in the 20th century primarily as a feminine name, perhaps an adaptation of the surname
Jocelyn (a medieval derivative of the given name). In France this is a masculine name only.
JODYf & mEnglishProbably either a variant of
JUDY or a diminutive of
JOSEPH. It was popularized by the young hero in Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' novel 'The Yearling' (1938) and the subsequent film adaptation (1946).