Jermaine♡
Meaning: Brother (Latin).
African American Names for Boys Starting with J
J - Authentic African American Boys Names & Their Meanings
Browse our curated list of African American boys names that start with the letter "J". Each name includes its meaning, cultural significance, and pronunciation help.
100 Names Found•African American boys Names•Starting with "J"
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Josiah♡
Meaning: God supports; God heals (jo-SY-ah—Hebrew; Old Testament).
Jahsir♡
Meaning: Unique blend of “Jah” and “Sir”
Jose♡
Meaning: Spanish form of Joseph: God will add or increase (Hebrew).
Jamaad♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Jupiter♡
Meaning: Supreme deity in Roman mythology; fifth planet from the sun (Latin).
JaKhel♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Jonas♡
Meaning: “Dove” (Greek origin)
James♡
Meaning: English form of Jacob from the Old Spanish Jayme: Supplanter; one who takes the place of; protector (Hebrew; Old Testament).
Josh♡
Meaning: Form of Joshua: God is my salvation (Hebrew).
Javion♡
Meaning: “Son of Japheth” (modern African American origin)
Jarrett♡
Meaning: “Spear ruler” (English origin)
Jocquise♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Jashawn♡
Meaning: Unique combination of “Ja” and “Shawn”
Juwanza♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture, a form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament).
Jaelani♡
Meaning: Modern blend, inspired by “Jalen” and “Jelani”
Jawaad♡
Meaning: Generous (Swahili, East Africa).
Javonn♡
Meaning: Modern African American name
Jacody♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Jack♡
Meaning: “God is gracious” (English origin)
Jamarcus♡
Meaning: Blend of “Jamar” and “Marcus”
Jahkay♡
Meaning: No meaning available
July♡
Meaning: Seventh month; fifth month of the Roman calendar; the month Gaius Julius Caesar was born (Latin).
Jaevion♡
Meaning: Blend of “Ja” and “Vion”
Jim♡
Meaning: Form of James, the English form of Jacob from the Old Spanish Jayme: The supplanter or one who takes the place of—Hebrew; Old Testament.
Jan♡
Meaning: Dutch form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament); pronunciation: yahn.
Jerrod♡
Meaning: Form of Jared: Descendant; the inheritor (JARE-ed—Hebrew).
Jory♡
Meaning: Form of Jordan: Descender (Hebrew); also a female name.
Jevonne♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Joshua♡
Meaning: God is my salvation (Hebrew).
Jerome♡
Meaning: “Sacred name” (Greek origin, popularized in African American culture)
Juba♡
Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown.
Julius♡
Meaning: Youthful; downy-bearded one (Latin).
Jaymore♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Jimi♡
Meaning: Form of Olujimi: Given by God (o-loo-JEE-me—Yoruba, Nigeria).
Jonas♡
Meaning: Form of Jonah: Peace, dove (Hebrew).
Judson♡
Meaning: English form of Jordan: Descender (Hebrew); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Jerrell♡
Meaning: Combination of “Jer” with “-rell” suffix, unique to African American culture
Johnnie♡
Meaning: Form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament).
Jirani♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Jazz♡
Meaning: From the style of American music jazz; origin unknown.
Jamil♡
Meaning: Physically and morally attractive (jah-MEEL—Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa). Also spelled Jamili and Jamiil.
Jordell♡
Meaning: Unique African American name with “-ell” suffix
Jeryl♡
Meaning: Form of Jerrold, a form of Gerald: Rules by the spear (German).
Jaydee♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Johnny♡
Meaning: Form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament).
Jaquann♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Jaboris♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Jules♡
Meaning: French form of Julius: Youthful; downy-bearded one (Latin).
Joaquin♡
Meaning: “God will judge” (Spanish origin)
Jaquan♡
Meaning: Blend of “Ja” and “Quan,” commonly used in African American communities
Jess♡
Meaning: “Wealthy” (Hebrew origin)
Jojuan♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture, a form of Juan, the Spanish form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament).
Jamonte♡
Meaning: Blend of “Ja” and “Monte”
Jaquarius♡
Meaning: Blend of “Ja” and “Quarius”
Jericho♡
Meaning: “City of the moon” (Hebrew origin)
Jarmar♡
Meaning: Blend of “Jar” and “Mar”
Jontray♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Jamison♡
Meaning: Son of James, English form of Jacob from the Old Spanish Jayme: Supplanter; one who takes the place of; protector (Hebrew; Old Testament).
Jamarico♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Jumon♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Jestie♡
Meaning: Form of Jessie, a form of Jesse: Gift; wealth; the Lord exists (Hebrew; Old Testament).
Jerome♡
Meaning: Sacred or holy name (Greek; Latin).
Jean-Baptiste♡
Meaning: Combined names that reflect John the Baptist (French; Hebrew; New Testament).
Jack♡
Meaning: Form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament).
Jennings♡
Meaning: Form of the Middle English Jenyn, a form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Jerald♡
Meaning: Form of Gerald: Rules by the spear (German).
Jafari♡
Meaning: “Stream” (Swahili origin)
Juvante♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Juan♡
Meaning: Spanish form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament).
Jeron♡
Meaning: Form of Jaron: To sing, to cry out (Hebrew).
Janale♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Jamyron♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Judson♡
Meaning: “Son of Jordan” (English origin)
Jalen♡
Meaning: “Calm” (modern African American origin)
Jean♡
Meaning: French form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament).
Jaelen♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture, a form of Jalal: Greatness (jah-LAL—Arabic, North Africa).
Jarmal♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Javan♡
Meaning: Greece (Hebrew; Old Testament). Javan was a son of Japheth, a son of Noah, whose descendants, after the flood, populated what is now Eurasia.
Jamir♡
Meaning: “One who is blessed” (modern American origin)
Jayson♡
Meaning: Form of Jason: Healer (Greek).
Jefferson♡
Meaning: “Son of Jeffrey” (English origin)
Jeep♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Jasper♡
Meaning: “Bringer of treasure” (Persian origin)
Jason♡
Meaning: Healer (Greek). In Greek mythology, Jason was a prince who led the Argonauts on a quest to find the Golden Fleece.
Jimmy♡
Meaning: Form of James, the English form of Jacob from the Old Spanish Jayme: The supplanter or one who takes the place of—Hebrew; Old Testament.
Javontez♡
Meaning: Variation of “Javonte” with “-ez” suffix
Jaegar♡
Meaning: Variation of “Jager,” meaning “hunter”
Joe♡
Meaning: Form of Joseph: He shall add (Hebrew).
Juwan♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture, a form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament).
Jared♡
Meaning: Descendant; the inheritor (JARE-ed—Hebrew).
Jaren♡
Meaning: Blend of two names such as John (God is gracious—Hebrew; New Testament) and Karen (pure—Greek).
Jeremiah♡
Meaning: “God will uplift” (Hebrew origin)
Javon♡
Meaning: Form of Javan: Greece (Hebrew; Old Testament). Javan was a son of Japheth, a son of Noah, whose descendants, after the flood, populated what is now Eurasia.
Jowuan♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Jaemi♡
Meaning: Form of Jamie, a form of James, the English form of Jacob from the Old Spanish Jayme: Supplanter; one who takes the place of; protector (Hebrew; Old Testament).
Jude♡
Meaning: Form of Judah: Praise (Hebrew; Old Testament).
Judah♡
Meaning: Praise (Hebrew; Old Testament).
Jon♡
Meaning: Form of Jonathan: Jehovah’s gift (Hebrew; Old Testament).
Javonte♡
Meaning: “Gift of God” (modern African American origin)