Barnabas

Aramaic

"son of consolation"

Barnabas Origin and Meaning

The name Barnabas is a boy's name of Aramaic origin meaning "son of consolation".

Barnabas, whose birth name was Joseph, was one of the earliest Christian disciples in Jerusalem, who undertook missionary journeys with Paul the Apostle, His name is a bit Old World compared to the update Barnaby, but could gain some attention as boys' names ending in 's' are enjoying a comeback.

Barnabas Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 1255 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Barnabas

• 1255 Nameberry 2025

20 Names Similar to Barnabas

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Barnabas.

• Bertram
• Archibald
• Horatio
• Ferdinand
• Horace
• Mortimer
• Leopold
• Cecil
• Humphrey
• Friedrich
• Oswald
• Clement
• Fitzwilliam
• Bartholomew
• Vivian
• Virgil
• Cornelius
• Hiram
• Edmond
• Clarence

Famous People Named Barnabas

• Barnabas biblical disciple
• Barnabas Bidwell U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts
• Barnabas Kelet Henagan American politician; 58th Governor of South Carolina
• Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini Prime Minister of Swaziland
• Barnabas Oley English churchman, academic and editor during the First Civil War
• Barnabas Andyar Iyorhyer Gemade Nigerian Senator
• Barnabas Gooch English MP and academic

The name Barnabas in Pop Culture

• Barnabas Collins character on TV's "Dark Shadows"
• Barnabas scary character in Russian stories
• Barnabas demon in "Charmed"
• Barnabas "Barney" Stinson character from "How I Met Your Mother
• Barnabas Hale warlock in Cassandra Clare's trilogy "The Dark Artifices"