Name profile

BoyPronounced German /ˈbaʁ.na.bas/; American English /ˈbɑɹ.nə.bəs/; British English /ˈbɑː.nə.bəs/

Barnabás

A name meaning "son of the prophet; son of encouragement".

Quick answer

Barnabás is a boy name meaning "son of the prophet; son of encouragement".

Pronunciation: German /ˈbaʁ.na.bas/; American English /ˈbɑɹ.nə.bəs/; British English /ˈbɑː.nə.bəs/.

GenderBoy
Meaningson of the prophet; son of encouragement
PronunciationGerman /ˈbaʁ.na.bas/; American English /ˈbɑɹ.nə.bəs/; British English /ˈbɑː.nə.bəs/

Meaning and history

Greek form of an Aramaic name. In Acts in the New Testament the byname Barnabas was given to a man named Joseph, a Jew from Cyprus who was a companion of Paul on his missionary journeys. The original Aramaic form is unattested, but it may be from בּר נביא (bar navi) meaning "son of the prophet", though in Acts 4:36 it is claimed that the name means "son of encouragement". As an English name, Barnabas came into occasional use after the 12th century. It is now rare, though the variant Barnaby is still moderately common in Britain.

Notes and context

Usage: german, english, biblical, biblical latin, biblical greek | Ancient Greek: Βαρναβᾶς