Given name & surname
Barnaby
“son of consolation”·“the son of the prophet; the son of encouragement”
In English use, Barnaby is a variant of Barnabas. Interpretations include “son of consolation” and “the son of the prophet; the son of encouragement” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Barnaby is a variant of Barnabas. Interpretations include “son of consolation” and “the son of the prophet; the son of encouragement” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Barnaby is a variant of Barnabas. An origin associated with Barnabas is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
From Old English Beornwald, from Old Norse býr (“farmstead”).
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1953. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Barnaby through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 380
- 380 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1974
- 19 babies
- 2025
- 5
- #12,273 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −19%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 5 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 12,273 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 19.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 19 in 1974. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 493 as a first name in 2020; 2,147 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.
Barnaby’s family of names
In English usage, Barnaby has a diminutive in Barney. Barnaby has a related form in Barnabas. In English usage, Barnaby has a conventional equivalent in the German form Barnabas.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Barnaby has relatives in 6 languages.
7 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 7
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Barnaby
- Barnaby JoyceAustralian politician, 17th Deputy Prime Minister of Australiaborn 1967
- Barnaby MetschuratGerman actorborn 1974
- Barnaby KayBritish actorborn 1967
- Barnaby ThompsonBritish film producerborn 1961
- Barnaby Conrad IIIauthor and artistborn 1952
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Barnaby, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Benji
“son of the right hand” · “son of the south”
98% boys · 2% girls
Bartholomew
“son of Talmai” · “the son of the farmer”
>99% boys
Grabiel
“man of God” · “a hero of God”
>99% boys
Danal
“God is my judge”
>99% boys
Esequiel
“God strengthens” · “strengthened by God”
>99% boys
Apostolos
“an apostle; a messenger of God”
>99% boys
Adamo
“man” · “of the earth”
>99% boys
Jerem
“one who is exalted by the Lord”
>99% boys