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NamyLab

Barnabas

male
Updated 7 months ago

Meaning

"Son of Encouragement"

Barnabas is a New Testament name from Aramaic tradition, commonly glossed as son of encouragement.

Themes:biblicalapostolictraditional
BiblicalUniqueRare

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Barnabas

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#4571Ranked nationally
SSA did not record this spelling in the national rankings for the available chart years. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year are omitted from the dataset.

Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Selected Year Rank
Unranked

Barnabas did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year
--

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Barnabas Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Barnabas.

10 ideas
Barie
Nickname
Barn
Nickname
bary
Nickname
barn
Nickname
bie
Nickname
by
Nickname
bo
Nickname
abas
Nickname
basy
Nickname
rnay
Nickname

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Baby Name Lists That Include Barnabas

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Barnabas, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

13 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Barnabas mean?
Barnabas means "Son of Encouragement". Barnabas is a New Testament name from Aramaic tradition, commonly glossed as son of encouragement.
What is the origin of Barnabas?
Barnabas is of Aramaic origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.
How popular is the name Barnabas?
According to the latest SSA data, Barnabas is currently ranked #4571 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.
Is Barnabas a boy name?
Barnabas is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.
What are good nicknames for Barnabas?
Popular nicknames for Barnabas include Barie, Barn, bary, barn, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.
What names are similar to Barnabas?
There are many names similar to Barnabas in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginAramaic, Greek
Syllables3
Length8 letters
US Rank#4571
Trend→ Stable
Starts withB

Sibling Ideas

Explore More Boy Names Like Barnabas

Barnabas has Aramaic roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Aramaic baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Barnabas appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Unique Baby Names and Biblical Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Classic Greek Baby Names and Names That Mean Child Of God for Boys and Girls.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Barnabas pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Barnabas beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.