Barbara f.
From the Greek barbaros, meaning ‘strange’ or ‘foreign’, and associated with St Barbara, a 3rd-century martyr. The name was little used after the Reformation, but in the 20th century it became popular again. Abbreviations include Bab, Babs, Barbie and sometimes Bobbi. The variant form Barbra was publicised by the singer Barbra Streisand. Babette is a French form of the name.
Barnabas m.
From the Hebrew meaning ‘son of exhortation or consolation’, it is best known as the name of the New Testament companion of St Paul. The diminutive, Barnaby, is rather fashionable at the moment, more so than the full form. Barney is a short form which is also shared with BERNARD.
Barney see Barnabas, Bernard
Barry m.
The English form of a variety of Celtic names, most prominently Bairre, a pet form of the Irish Finbarr (Finnbar, Fionnbharr) meaning ‘fair-haired’. Barry can also be spelt Barrie, the usual spelling in the name’s infrequent use for girls.
Bartholomew m.
From the Hebrew, meaning ‘son of Talmai’, Talmai meaning ‘full of furrows’. It was the surname of the Apostle NATHANIEL and was very popular in the Middle Ages when the cult of St Bartholomew was at its height. St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London was founded in the 12th century, and a riotous annual Bartholomew Fair held in the city to provide funds for it, was suppressed only in the 19th century. The name is still in use, and has short forms Bart, made famous by the cartoon character Bart Simpson, and Barty.
Basil m.
From the Greek basileios, meaning ‘kingly’. It was probably brought to England by the Crusaders, and it has remained in use ever since. Diminutives include Bas or Baz, Basie and Bazza, and there are two feminine forms, Basilia and Basilie. These were common in the Middle Ages, but are hardly ever found today.
Bastian, Bastien see Sebastian
Bathsheba f.
This name derives from Hebrew words which mean ‘daughter of opulence’. In the Old Testament Bathsheba was the beautiful wife of Uriah and was seduced by King David who arranged to have Uriah die during a battle. Bathsheba married David and became the mother of Solomon. The name was formerly used in Cornwall in the form Bersaba, and appears also in its pet form Sheba. Bathsheba Everdene is a central character in Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd.
Baz, Bazza see Basil
Beatrice f.
From the Latin Beatrix, meaning ‘bringer of happiness’. It has strong literary associations. Dante’s Beatrice is probably best known, but Shakespeare also used the name in Much Ado About Nothing. Recently, both forms of the name have shown signs of returning to popularity, no doubt helped by the publicity given to it as the name of one of the Duke and Duchess of York’s daughters. Short forms include Bea or Bee, Beata, Beatty, Triss and Trixie. There is also a Welsh variant, Bettrys, and a Spanish form Beatriz.
Becky see Rebecca
Bel see Annabel, Arabella, Belinda, Isabel
Belinda f.
From an Old German name, the latter part of which means ‘a snake’ (see LINDA). The first part of the name is obscure, but is commonly thought of as representing the French ‘fair’. Its popular use began in the 18th century when it was used in plays by Congreve and Vanbrugh, and in Pope’s poem The Rape of the Lock. Short forms include Bel and all forms of LINDA.
Bella, Belle see Annabel, Arabella, Isabel
Ben see Benjamin
Benedict m.
From the Latin benedictus, meaning ‘blessed’, and most familiar as the name of St Benedict, founder of the Benedictine Order. It was common in medieval England in the forms Bennet and Benedick. The latter is the name of a character in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. There are feminine forms Benedicta and Benedetta, and a Spanish-American form Benita.
Benjamin m.
From the Hebrew, meaning ‘son of the south’ or ‘right hand’, which might imply strength and good fortune. The Old Testament story of Benjamin, son of Jacob, gave the name the added implications of a favoured youngest son. The commonest pet forms are Ben, Bennie, Benny, Benjie and Benjy. It is currently a very popular name.
Bennet see Benedict
Berenice f.
From the Greek Pherenice, meaning ‘bringer of victory’. It was spread by the imperial conquests of Alexander the Great over Europe and Asia. It was especially popular in Egypt, during the period of Macedonian rule, and its use spread also to the family of Herod of Judea. Bernice is a modern form of the name, and Bunny is sometimes used as a pet form (see also VERONICA).
Bernadette f.
The commonest female form of BERNARD. Its use has spread due to the fame of St Bernadette of Lourdes, who lived in the mid 19th century and whose visions started the pilgrimages of healing to that town. The Italian Bernardetta has been shortened to Detta, which can be used as an independent name. Bernadine is another form of the name, and Bernie the short form.
Bernard m.
A Germanic name meaning ‘brave as a bear’. It was very popular in the Middle Ages. Two important saints bearing the name were St Bernard of Menthon after whom St Bernard dogs are named, and St Bernard of Clairvaux who inspired the Second Crusade. It has remained in use ever since. The most usual short forms are Bernie and Barney, which is shared with BARNABAS.
Berry see Apple, Bertram
Bert, Bertie m.
A pet form of a large number of names including ALBERT, BERTRAM, BERTRAND, GILBERT, HERBERT, HUBERT, ROBERT. In all these cases, the ‘-bert’ part of the name is a Germanic element meaning ‘bright’. The name is sometimes used as a given name, when it may take the form Burt.
Bertha f.
From the Old German word beraht, meaning ‘bright’. The first famous English Bertha was the wife of King Ethelbert of Kent who welcomed St Augustine to England on his mission of conversion. In the Middle Ages both Bertha and Berta were popular, and the name has been regularly used ever since, although it is rather uncommon at present.
Bertram m.
From the Old German meaning ‘bright raven’, the bird associated with the god Odin. The name has been used in England since the early Middle Ages, and has the short forms BERT and Bertie, and the less common Berry. Bertrand, meaning ‘bright shield’, is often treated as the French form of Bertram and shares with it the short forms BERT and Bertie.
Beryl f.
From the gemstone, whose name is related to the Arabic for ‘crystal’. It appeared in the 19th century, and was popular in the early part of the 20th century.
Bess, Bessie, Beth see Elizabeth
Betha see Bethia
Bethany f.
A popular name taken from a New Testament place name, the village where Lazarus lived. The short form Bethan is used independently, and is also a short form of ELIZABETH which has spread from Wales.
Bethia f.
Bethia or Bethea can be interpreted in three different ways. It can be thought of as a pet form of ELIZABETH, as a use of the Old Testament place name Bethia, or as an English version of a Gaelic name also found as Betha, meaning ‘life’.
Betsy, Bettina, Betty see Elizabeth
Bettrys see Beatrice
Beverl(e)y f. and m.
From an Old English surname meaning ‘of the beaver-meadow’. It is shortened to Bev, and is now only rarely used for boys.
Bevis m.
This