Fetching Names: Joyful J Names

I cannot resist.

Even after Dorcas posted her list yesterday, I still feel compelled to weigh in.

The Duggar family is expecting baby #20, which means they’ll need another J name. If you haven’t been following the mega-family since they had their first television special in 2004, the story of the names goes something like this:

They liked the name Joshua James for their first son. Then along came twins, Jana Marie and John-David. They didn’t want future kids to feel left out, so they figured they’d stick with J names, never dreaming they’d have so many kids.

The rest of the Duggar siblings are Jill Michelle, Jessa Lauren, Jinger Nicole, Joseph Garrett, Josiah Matthew, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah Robert, Jeremiah Robert, Jason Michael, James Andrew, Justin Samuel, Jackson Levi, Johannah Faith, Jennifer Danielle, Jordyn-Grace Makiya, and Josie Brooklyn.

Thanks to nouveau coinages like Jayden and Jaylon and Jaymee, J gets a bad rap, ranking right up there with the kreativ K. But there are plenty of J names that are stylish, wearable, and in some cases, completely unexpected.

No telling what the Duggar family will go with, but here are a few J names that anyone might consider.

BOYS

Jasper – He’s a nature name with a Colonial Revival vibe, plus his ends-in-r sound is terribly current. Popular in the nineteenth century, he’s rising again today. Jasper would fit in with the other Duggar names, but Jasper Duggar isn’t the most appealing first-last combination.

Jett – A modern all-boy choice with a nod to aviation and another to jet black coal, the name was most famously worn by a Disney Channel character, and by the late son of John Travolta and Kelly Preston. Jett first debuted in the US Top 1000 in 1999, and has climbed steadily to #353 last year. He’s probably not quite the Duggars’ style, though some of their middles hint at a trendier side.

Jonah or Jonas – They’re impeccably Biblical, but with Joseph, Josiah, and Josie, it seems like another Jo might be a no-go. Then again, it hasn’t stopped them yet …

Julian – This one could work beautifully. Despite Duggar Dad Jim Bob suggesting Julie Grace for baby Jordyn-Grace, never used a name starting with ju.

Jonathan – I would love to suggest it to Jim Bob and Michelle, but big brother John-David probably rules this out. Jonathan is one of my perpetual good guy names. I guess there could be a rat fink named Jonathan, but it seems like you’d have to be a helpful, sincere Boy Scout of a guy with this handsome name.

Jude – On their first television special, the family appeared to have settled on the name Judah Benjamin for son Jackson Levi. He shares the same sounds with Julian, but I’m not sure why they dumped Judah a coupla kids back – maybe they just liked Jackson better, or maybe they’d decided that Judah isn’t for them.

Jareth – Yes, yes I just suggested the name of the Goblin King, David Bowie’s character from 1986 fantasy flick Labyrinth, the rare Jim Henson production with a darker side. Jareth is a big-haired bad guy, his name apparently a spin on the Biblical Jared. So it isn’t exactly the Duggar family style, and yet, none of the kids’ names end in -eth. Jared strikes me as dated, but like sister Jennifer, it is one common J name that they’ve yet to use.

GIRLS

Jerusha – J’adore Jerusha. She’s an unusual Biblical pick with just enough use over the years to stay relevant. She also strikes me as an update to Geraldine. If the couple can have kids called Jedidiah and Josiah, why not Jerusha?

Justina – Since the family already includes a Justin, this one is almost certainly off the table – though they have a Josie and a Joseph. These days, Justin is a dad name, and Justine was a Bateman, but how ’bout Justina? She’s quirky and ancient, though perhaps the -tina ending gives parents pause.

Juliet – As with Julian, the family has yet to use the ju sound, and Julie has been in serious consideration in the past. (Seriously – how do you get to Jinger before Julia?) Other Jul- options include Julitta and Julissa. But this one is more a romantic, literary pick – not exactly their style.

June – She’s a lovely Little Einstein and Johnny Cash’s better half. Could Josie’s little sis be known as Junie? Along the same lines there’s Junia, Juno, and Juniper – all names in favor with name fans everywhere, but perhaps not on the radar of Arkansas’ most famous family.

Jessamine – Yes, there’s a Jessa, which might explain why the family has never welcomed a Jesse. Too bad because Jessamine and Jessamy are lovely, unexpected botanicals.

Jonquil – The slim nature name starts with jon, but offers a completely unexpected nickname. Just like Johannah answers to Hannie, Jonquil Duggar could be called Quil or Quilla. This is an idea that I love – not just for the Duggars, but for an ordinary family with just one or two children to name!

What do you think the Duggars will consider for the newest member of their family? Are there J-names that you’d use?