How Many People Are Named Barnabas?

Complete statistics for the name Barnabas: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Barnabas
Very Rare
Greek

Barnabas means 'son of encouragement' and is a very rare name for boys. Only 539 people named Barnabas live in the US today, making up just 1 in 611,871 Americans. The majority, 56%, are under 30, showing it's a genuinely modern choice.

~227
Living in US
1 in 1,460,129
Americans
2017
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Son of encouragement
🌐
Origin
Greek
🌟
Lucky Day
Friday
💎
Lucky Stone
Amethyst
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 22
Personality Traits
Encouraging Supportive Reliable
22
Life Path Number

Traditionally, life-path number 22 represents a powerful blend of leadership and humanitarianism.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

87,048
Worldwide Bearers
#11,499
Global Rank
🇳🇬 Nigeria
27,342
🇹🇿 Tanzania
10,954
🇰🇪 Kenya
6,548
🇮🇩 Indonesia
5,273
🇬🇭 Ghana
4,776
🇺🇬 Uganda
4,598
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
4,034
🇿🇲 Zambia
3,436
🇨🇲 Cameroon
3,373
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
2,543

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
539 (100%)
♀ Female
0 (0%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 28
320
Would be under 30 (56%)
220
Would be 30–60 (38%)
35
Would be over 60 (6%)

All 575 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 2017

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
82
Classic Feel
18
Modern Appeal
100
International
99

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Barnabas Through the Generations

Barnabas has seen a steady rise in popularity, peaking in 2017 with 24 births. Today, there are 539 people named Barnabas in the United States, with most falling within the 30-60 age range. Interestingly, 320 of those named Barnabas are under 30, indicating its status as a contemporary name embraced by younger parents.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

Texas 5

✨ Similar Names to Barnabas

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Barnabas's Greek roots

📄 About the Name Barnabas

How Many People Have the Name Barnabas?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 227 people in the United States currently share the name Barnabas. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,460,129 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Barnabas a Common or Rare Name?

Barnabas is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Barnabas Mean?

Barnabas means "son of encouragement" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 22.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Barnabas in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.

When Was Barnabas Most Popular?

The name Barnabas reached peak popularity in 2017, with 24 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Barnabas?

Approximately 227 people named Barnabas live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 227. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,460,129 Americans.

Is Barnabas a rare name?

Barnabas is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,460,129 Americans has this name.

What does the name Barnabas mean?

Barnabas means "son of encouragement" and comes from Greek origins.

Is Barnabas more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Barnabas are male and 0% are female.

When was Barnabas most popular?

Barnabas peaked in 2017 with 24 births that year. Current trend: Rising.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US227
All-Time Births227
1 in X1 in 1,460,129
RarityVery Rare
GenderMale
Avg Age28
Peak Year2017
World Rank#11,499
Male %100%
Female %0%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.