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Barnaby

Boy name · 38 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Barnaby: 38 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 4 births in 2017.

Barnaby is the English form of the Greek Barnabas, itself from the Aramaic "Bar Nava," meaning "son of the prophet" or "son of consolation." The name walks a dual path between the saintly and the mischievous, thanks largely to its most famous bearer: Barnaby Rudge, the aimless title character of Charles Dickens's 1841 historical novel. Historically, the name also belonged to the Apostle Barnabas, a key early Christian missionary and companion of St. Paul. While no major places bear the name directly, Barnaby shares its root with the English surname Barnaby, and the name often appears in vintage dog names—a fact that connects nicely to its literary canine counterpart. A notable variant is Barnabus, an occasional Latinised spelling, while the contraction Barney remains a popular nickname.