This list includes 23 Roman names that start with J, from “Janius” to “Justus”. These names commonly function as praenomina, nomina, or cognomina and help writers, parents, and researchers find authentic Roman options.
Roman names that start with J are personal or family names preserved in Latin literature and inscriptions. Notably, names like Justus later entered Christian use and recur in medieval and modern records.
Below you’ll find the table with Gender, Pronunciation, and Meaning.
Gender: Indicates masculine, feminine, or unmarked usage so you can choose names that suit a character or child.
Pronunciation: Provides a simple guide to Latin pronunciation so you can say the name accurately in dialogue or speech.
Meaning: Gives a concise sense of origin or literal meaning to help you pick names with deliberate significance.
Roman names that start with J
| Name | Gender | Name type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julius | Masculine | Nomen | of Iulus; linked to Aeneas’ line |
| Julia | Feminine | Nomen | female of Julius; of Iulus’ line |
| Junius | Masculine | Nomen | possibly “young” or linked to Juno |
| Junia | Feminine | Nomen | female of Junius; same root |
| Junianus | Masculine | Cognomen (common) | derived from Junius; “of the Junii” |
| Julianus | Masculine | Cognomen (common) | belonging to Julius; “of Julius” |
| Juliana | Feminine | Cognomen | female of Julianus/Julius |
| Justus | Masculine | Cognomen | just, righteous |
| Justina | Feminine | Cognomen | feminine of Justus |
| Juba | Masculine | Cognomen | Numidian royal name; uncertain meaning |
| Jucundus | Masculine | Cognomen | pleasant, agreeable |
| Jucunda | Feminine | Cognomen | pleasant |
| Jocundus | Masculine | Cognomen | pleasant (variant spelling) |
| Jocunda | Feminine | Cognomen | pleasant (variant) |
| Januarius | Masculine | Cognomen | of Janus; related to January |
| Januaria | Feminine | Cognomen | female of Januarius |
| Janius | Masculine | Nomen | derived from Janus (the god) |
| Javolenus | Masculine | Nomen | gentilicium of uncertain origin |
| Jovianus | Masculine | Cognomen | of Jove/Jupiter |
| Jovius | Masculine | Nomen | derived from Jove/Jupiter |
| Joannes | Masculine | Praenomen (late Imperial) | Yahweh is gracious (Hebrew, John) |
| Jucundianus | Masculine | Cognomen | related to Jucundus; descendant of Jucundus |
| Joviana | Feminine | Cognomen | female of Jovianus/Jove-related |
Descriptions
Julius
YOO-lee-us; attested: Gaius Julius Caesar, countless inscriptions; very common gens (Julii) in Republican and Imperial Rome.
Julia
YOO-lee-ah; attested: Julia (Caesar’s daughter), many inscriptions; standard feminine nomen, very common across periods.
Junius
JOON-ee-us; attested: Lucius Junius Brutus, numerous Republican inscriptions; well-known gens (Junii), common.
Junia
JOON-ee-ah; attested: many Roman women in inscriptions; standard feminine form of the Junii family.
Junianus
joo-NEE-ah-nus; attested: Imperial inscriptions and officials; common derivative cognomen indicating connection to the gens.
Julianus
joo-LEE-ah-nus; attested: Emperor Julian (4th c.), many inscriptions; very common as cognomen and later nomen.
Juliana
joo-lee-AH-nah; attested: imperial and funerary inscriptions; common late-Roman feminine name.
Justus
YOO-stus; attested: numerous inscriptions and Christian texts; common cognomen, especially in Imperial and Christian contexts.
Justina
yoo-STEE-nah; attested: late-antique inscriptions and hagiography; moderately common feminine name.
Juba
YOO-bah; attested: Juba I and Juba II (client kings), Roman histories and inscriptions; exotic but well-attested in Rome.
Jucundus
yoo-KOON-dus; attested: funerary and civic inscriptions; common descriptive cognomen in the Imperial period.
Jucunda
yoo-KOON-dah; attested: funerary inscriptions; common feminine counterpart to Jucundus.
Jocundus
joh-KUN-dus; attested: inscriptions and medieval manuscripts; less frequent variant of Jucundus in Imperial/late texts.
Jocunda
joh-KUN-dah; attested: funerary inscriptions; variant feminine form found in Imperial-era epigraphy.
Januarius
jan-YOO-air-ee-us; attested: many Imperial inscriptions and bishops; common from Imperial into late antiquity.
Januaria
jan-YOO-air-ee-ah; attested: funerary and votive inscriptions; frequent feminine form in the Imperial period.
Janius
YAN-ee-us; attested: a few inscriptions; rare gentilicium probably patronymic from the god Janus.
Javolenus
jah-voh-LEH-nus; attested: Javolenus Priscus (jurist) and inscriptions; rare but securely attested nomen.
Jovianus
joh-VEE-ah-nus; attested: Emperor Jovian (fl. 363–364), various inscriptions; used as cognomen into the late Empire.
Jovius
JOH-vee-us; attested: occasional inscriptions; rare gentilicium with religious/Julian associations.
Joannes
yo-ANN-es; attested: Christian bishops and inscriptions from 3rd–5th c.; common in late Imperial Christian naming.
Jucundianus
yoo-kun-DEE-ah-nus; attested: inscriptions; derivative cognomen, moderately rare in epigraphy.
Joviana
joh-VEE-ah-nah; attested: funerary and dedicatory inscriptions; used as feminine cognomen in Imperial to late-antique contexts.