The story behind Barnabas
From Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs), from Aramaic בַרְנֶבֻאָה (barneḇú’â, literally “prophet's son”), from בּר (bar, “son of”) and נְבִיָּא (nəḇiyyā, “prophet”).
Pronunciation
General-American: /ˈbɑɹnəbəs/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /ˈbɑːnəbəs/
Popularity
Barnabas ranked #3669 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Barnabas
Barnabáš
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs), from Hebrew בּר (bar, “son”) and נָבִיא (naví, “prophet”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Š
- same syllable count
- similar length
Abromas
Borrowed from Ecclesiastical Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβραάμ (Abraám), from Hebrew אַבְרָהָם. Cognates include German Abraham and Russian Авраам (Avraam).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adamus
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἄδᾱμος (Ádāmos).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adomas
Borrowed from Ecclesiastical Latin Adamus, from Ancient Greek Ἄδαμος (Ádamos), from Hebrew אָדָם (adam, “earth, man, soil, light brown”). Compare German Adam and Russian Адам…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ananias
From Ancient Greek Ἀνανίας (Ananías), from Hebrew חֲנַנְיָה (khananyá).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Iacomus
Late Latin variant of Iācōbus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos, “supplanter, heel-grabber”), from Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (Yaʿăqōḇ). As it is a Late Latin word, Greek stress is…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Barnabas
Aarão
From Latin Aarōn, from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן ('aharón). Doublet of Faro.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Barnabas
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abednego
From Hebrew עֲבֵד נְגוֹא, itself derived from a reconstructed Aramaic name meaning likely "servant of Nabu" or "servant of Nergal".
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length