Barnaby

Barnaby is a male first name that is regarded as the English variant of Barnabas. The literal meaning of the name is 'son of comfort', 'son of (comforting) prophecy', 'son of Nabas', or 'the son from the place Nob'.

What does the name Barnaby mean?

Barnaby is a boy's name that is regarded as the English form of Barnabas. The translation literally means 'son of comfort', 'son of (comforting) prophecy', 'son of Nabas', or 'the son from the place Nob'. The name consists of two parts. The first part is secure and comes from the ancient Aramaic word bar (בר), which means 'son'. There is disagreement among researchers regarding the origin of the second part. It may refer to nabas as the 'father's name of Joseph' or to the place Nob. A derivation from the Hebrew naviya' (נביא) for 'prophet' or from Nebo, an Aramaic deity, is considered rather unlikely. Other variants of the name include Barnabe, Barnaba, Barnabo, Barny, Barney, Bernabei, Bernabeu, and Varnava. The name has spread mainly through Saint Apostle Barnabas, who, according to legend, was the first bishop of Milan.

How do you pronounce Barnaby?

The pronunciation of Barnaby is three syllables and has a lively rhythm. It is pronounced as 'Bar-na-by' [ˈbɑːnəbi], with the long 'a' leading to a wide, open sound. The gentle following syllables with a bright 'i' at the end give the name a certain lightness and mobility. This makes Barnaby appear friendly and characterful - playful in rhythm but with a down-to-earth core.

When is the name day of Barnaby?

The name day of Barnaby falls on June 11.

Popularity

In Germany, Barnaby is a rare first name. In 2022, it ranked 5,453rd on the list of the most common male baby names. Its best ranking was achieved in 2011, reaching 2,275th place. Over the last ten years, Barnaby has been given as a first name about 20 times, placing it 5,448th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 4,945th.

Nicknames & pet names

Barney

Famous people

• Barnaby Edwards (English actor)
• Barnaby Evans (artist from America)
• Barnaby French (Australian footballer)
• Barnaby Furnas (American artist)
• Barnaby Kay (Australian actor)
• Barnaby Metschurat (actor)
• Barnaby Potter (British bishop)
• Barnaby Ruhe (American artist)
• Barnaby Thompson (film producer from England)