Given name & surname
Barnabas
“son of consolation”·“the son of the prophet; the son of encouragement”
Barnabas is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “son of consolation” and “the son of the prophet; the son of encouragement” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Original GreekΒαρναβας
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “son of consolation” and “the son of the prophet; the son of encouragement” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hebrew.
How it developed
In English usage, Barnabas developed from Βαρναβᾶς.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1920. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Barnabas appears in Acts 4:36, Acts 11:22, Acts 15:36-39 and 2 other passages.
- Acts 4:36
- Acts 11:22
- Acts 15:36-39
- Acts 15:39
- Galatians 2:1-13
From biblical name research
Barnabas through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 605
- 605 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 30 babies
- 2025
- 30
- #3,669 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +18%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 30 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,669 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 17.6% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 711 as a first name in 2020; 227 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Barnabas’s family of names
Barnabas has an affectionate form in Barney. Barnabas shares a linguistic root with Barna. In German usage, Barnabas has a conventional equivalent in the English form Barnaby.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Barnabas has relatives in 13 languages. Lines run from its Hebrew roots to each of them.
12 related names in 13 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 16
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 7
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 7
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Barnabas
- Barnabas1st-century Cypriot Jewish apostle and missionary, Christian saint, companion of St. Paul and founder of the Cypriot Church
- Barnabas Sibusiso DlaminiPrime Minister of Swaziland (1942-2018)
- Barnabas ZhangChinese christian (1882–1961)
- Barnabas NawangweUgandan professor, architect, academic (* 1956)
- Barnabas ImengerNigerian association football player (1971–2021)
- Barnabas ImengerNigerian footballerborn 1991
- Barnabas Bidwellpolitician and lawyer of Massachusetts and Upper Canada (1763-1833)
- Barnabas R. Halem 'ImanaUgandan catholic priest and bishop (1929-2016)
- Barnabas Kelet HenaganGovernor of South Carolina, 1840 (1798–1855)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Barnabas, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ananias
“Yah has been gracious” · “graciously given of Yah”
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“swiftness” · “one who is swift”
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Mordecai
“devotee of the god Marduk” · “a servant of Marduk, a Babylonian god”
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Eleazar
“God will help”
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Asa
“doctor, healer” · “born in the morning”
89% boys · 11% girls
Samson
“sun man”
>99% boys
Elnathan
“God has given”
>99% boys