Boy nameCurrently #9,996 in the USFalling
Barnaby
BAR-nuh-bee//ˈbɑːrnəbi//
3 syllablesPeak year: 19747 lettersStarts with B
Meaning & origin
Son of encouragement (English form of Barnabas)
Barnaby is an English form of Barnabas, from the Aramaic/Hebrew meaning 'son of encouragement' or 'son of consolation', a companion of the apostle Paul in the New Testament. Its old-fashioned, whimsical charm has made it a distinctive modern revival choice, particularly in the UK.
Barnaby's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Barnaby |
|---|---|
| 1953 | 6 |
| 1956 | 7 |
| 1957 | 6 |
| 1959 | 6 |
| 1960 | 8 |
| 1961 | 7 |
| 1963 | 6 |
| 1964 | 8 |
| 1965 | 6 |
| 1967 | 5 |
| 1969 | 8 |
| 1970 | 5 |
| 1971 | 5 |
| 1972 | 9 |
| 1973 | 14 |
| 1974 | 19 |
| 1975 | 14 |
| 1976 | 12 |
| 1977 | 16 |
| 1978 | 11 |
| 1979 | 18 |
| 1980 | 14 |
| 1981 | 8 |
| 1982 | 9 |
| 1983 | 7 |
| 1985 | 8 |
| 1986 | 10 |
| 1987 | 6 |
| 1988 | 5 |
| 1989 | 7 |
| 1990 | 6 |
| 1991 | 5 |
| 1993 | 5 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 7 |
Barnaby through the decades
- Barnaby peaked in 1974, when 19 babies were named Barnaby in the US.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2014–2024), use of Barnaby has risen 11% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Barnaby currently ranks #9,996 in the US and is cooling off.
Nicknames
Barney
Variants & spellings
Barnabas