Barnabas

At a Glance

Meaning

Son of the prophet

Origin

Aramaic

Gender

Primarily used for boys

Pronunciation

BAR-nuh-busListen

Barnabas is an Aramaic name with a meaning of 'son of the prophet.' You'll often see it glossed as 'son of encouragement,' a phrase drawn from Acts 4:36, but that's the traditional biblical rendering rather than the literal etymology — the Aramaic elements more literally combine to 'son of the prophet.' If you're drawn to the sound of Barnabas, you're choosing a name with a specific, documented linguistic meaning behind it.

Meaning & Origin of Barnabas

Meaning: Son of the prophet.

Origin: Aramaic.

A common claim: Widely said to mean 'son of encouragement,' per Acts 4:36 in the New Testament. Actually: This is the traditional biblical gloss, not the literal etymology — the Aramaic elements more literally combine to 'son of the prophet.'

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Barnabas

Popularity of Barnabas

Barnabas peaked at #2883 in 1969, when 10 babies were given the name, and by 2024 it had fallen to #4571 despite being given to 22 babies that year — SSA has tracked the name since 1920.

Names Like Barnabas

These names have followed a similar path to Barnabas in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Donnell
• Alesia
• Robby
• Leisha
• Shelly
• Suzie

FAQ

What does the name Barnabas mean?

Son of the prophet. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Barnabas?

Barnabas is pronounced BAR-nuh-bus (IPA: /ˈbɑːrnəbəs/).

Is Barnabas a popular name right now?

Barnabas peaked at #2883 in 1969 and is ranked #4571 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1920–2024.)

Make Barnabas Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Barnabas, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.