Here you’ll find 27 Polish boy names that start with J, organized from “Jacek” to “Jędrzej”. Many of these names reflect Christian traditions and Slavic roots.
Polish boy names that start with J are given names commonly used in Poland, often with Slavic or Biblical origins. Names like “Jan” and “Jacek” show long historical use and familiar diminutives.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Pronunciation, Meaning & Origin, and Diminutive.
Name: The full Polish given name as used today, so you can identify and compare entries quickly.
Pronunciation: A simple English-friendly respelling and IPA where available, so you say each name correctly.
Meaning & Origin: A concise one-line explanation giving the name’s meaning and linguistic or cultural background.
Diminutive: Common nicknames or short forms, when widely used, so you recognize informal or familial versions.
Polish boy names that start with J
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning/Origin | Diminutives/Common variants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Yahn /jan/ | Hebrew: “Yahweh is gracious” | Janek, Jas, John |
| Jakub | YAH-koob /ˈjakub/ | Hebrew: “supplanter” (Jacob) | Kuba, Kubek, Jak |
| Jacek | YAH-tsek /ˈjat͡sɛk/ | From Latin Hyacinthus, “hyacinth” | Jacuś, Jacek (standalone) |
| Jędrzej | YEN-dzhey /ˈjɛndʐej/ | Polish form of Andrew, “manly” | Jędrek, Jędruś |
| Jerzy | YEH-zhi /ˈjɛʐɨ/ | Greek: “farmer” (George) | Jurek, Jerzyk |
| Jeremi | yeh-REH-mee /jɛˈrɛmʲi/ | Hebrew: variant of Jeremiah | Jeremek, Jere |
| Jeremiasz | yeh-reh-MYASH /jɛrɛˈmjasz/ | Hebrew: “Yahweh exalts” (Jeremiah) | Jerry, Jeremek |
| Joachim | yo-AH-kheem /joˈaxim/ | Hebrew: “raised by God” | Achim, Joachym |
| Jonasz | YO-nash /ˈjɔnaʃ/ | Hebrew: “dove” (Jonah) | Jon, Jonek |
| Jonatan | yo-na-TAHN /jɔnaˈtan/ | Hebrew: “God has given” (Jonathan) | Jon, Jonek, Jonathan |
| Józef | YO-zef /ˈjuʐɛf/ | Hebrew: “he will add” (Joseph) | Józek, Zef, Joseph |
| Jozue | yo-ZOO-eh /jɔˈzuɛ/ | Hebrew: “Yahweh is salvation” (Joshua) | Jozuś, Jozue |
| Julian | yoo-LYAHN /juˈljan/ | Latin: “youthful, of Julius” | Jul, Julianek |
| Juliusz | YOO-lyoosh /ˈjuliuʂ/ | Latin: “descended from Julius” | Julek, Juliuś |
| Justyn | yoos-TIN /juˈstɨn/ | Latin: “just, righteous” (Justin) | Justek, Justynek |
| Jurand | yoo-RAND /juˈrand/ | Old Slavic/fictional medieval origin | — |
| Jarema | yah-REH-ma /jaˈrɛma/ | Ukrainian/Slavic origin, historical | Jarek (diminutive) |
| Jaromir | yah-ROH-meer /jaˈrɔmir/ | Slavic: “fierce/strong peace” | Jaro, Mirek |
| Jarogniew | yah-roh-GNYEF /jarɔˈɡɲɛf/ | Slavic: “fierce glory/anger” | Jaro |
| Jarosław | yah-ROS-wav /jaˈrɔswaf/ | Slavic: “fierce glory” | Jarek, Sławek |
| Janik | YAH-nik /ˈjanik/ | Diminutive of Jan; used as given name | Janek, Jano |
| Janusz | YAH-noosh /ˈjanusʂ/ | Diminutive/derived from Jan | Jan, Jano, Januszek |
| Jacenty | ya-TSEN-ti /jaˈt͡sɛntɨ/ | Greek/Latin origin (Hyacinth variant) | Centek, Jacuś |
| Józafat | yo-za-FAHT /jɔzaˈfat/ | Hebrew/Greek via Church (Josaphat) | Zafat, Józafat |
| Judasz | yoo-DASH /juˈdaʂ/ | Hebrew: “praised” (Judas) | Juda (rare) |
| Jacenty | ya-TSEN-ti /jaˈt͡sɛntɨ/ | Greek/Latin (Hyacinth variant) | Jacek (related) |
| Józefat | yo-zo-FAHT /jɔzɔˈfat/ | Variant of Josaphat | — |
Descriptions
Jan
Poland’s classic and most popular J-name; timeless biblical form used since medieval times, very common in all generations.
Jakub
Very popular biblical name in Poland; common in modern birth registers with strong historical usage.
Jacek
Traditional Polish name tied to Saint Jacek (Hyacinth); widespread and friendly-sounding.
Jędrzej
Old Slavic/Greek origin; less common today but historically significant and distinctive.
Jerzy
Polish form of George; very established, used by historical figures and modern men alike.
Jeremi
Biblical-rooted name with a soft sound; used intermittently across centuries.
Jeremiasz
Biblical, somewhat formal; occasionally used in Poland as a full given name.
Joachim
Biblical/saint’s name known in Poland; somewhat archaic but still attested.
Jonasz
Biblical name (Jonah); uncommon but recognized, with a gentle, short sound.
Jonatan
Modern-biblical form gaining some use; international and accessible.
Józef
Evergreen biblical name with strong traditional usage; common historically and in modern Poland.
Jozue
Biblical Joshua; less frequent but known from scripture and church tradition.
Julian
Classic European name used in Poland; elegant and moderately common.
Juliusz
Polish form of Julius; literary and historical associations, used across eras.
Justyn
Modern-sounding form of Justin; used in Poland especially since 20th century.
Jurand
Rare, historically/fictionally attested name (e.g., Sienkiewicz); recognized in Polish culture.
Jarema
East-Slavic-rooted name used in Polish history; uncommon but attested.
Jaromir
Old Slavic compound name; medieval and historical usage, now rare but culturally Polish.
Jarogniew
Archaic Slavic compound name attested in medieval sources; very rare today.
Jarosław
Well-known Slavic name common historically and still used; many notable Polish bearers.
Janik
Originally a diminutive turned formal name; moderately used, especially regionally.
Janusz
Popular mid-20th-century name; now seen as traditional, with strong cultural recognition.
Jacenty
Historical and saint-related name; rare today but attested in Polish onomastics.
Józafat
Church-historical name (Saint Josaphat); uncommon, mostly ecclesiastical or historical use.
Judasz
Biblical name with negative connotations (betrayer Judas); historically attested but rarely used today.
Jacenty
Rare historical form related to Jacek/Jacenty; appears in older records and hagiography.
Józefat
Very rare variant of Józafat/Josaphat; mainly seen in historical or religious texts.