Barnabas vs Rayshawn

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Barnabas

Boy #4,616 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"son of encouragement"

Origin: Aramaic

Cultural Roots

English Greek Christian American European

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#4,616
Total SSA Count
22
Syllables
3
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Barney, Barn, Barnie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Barnabas →

Rayshawn

Boy #4,476 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"ray of light + God is gracious"

Origin: English + Irish/Hebrew

Cultural Roots

American African American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#4,476
Total SSA Count
23
Syllables
2
Formality
Casual
Nicknames
Ray, Shawn, Raye

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Rayshawn →

Popularity Comparison

Barnabas Rank #4,616
Rayshawn Rank #4,476

Rayshawn is more popular, ranked #4476 vs #4616 for Barnabas.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Barnabas ___

  • Barnabas James
  • Barnabas Thomas
  • Barnabas Oliver
  • Barnabas William
  • Barnabas Frederick
  • Barnabas Edward

Rayshawn ___

  • Rayshawn James
  • Rayshawn Andre
  • Rayshawn Darius
  • Rayshawn Marcus
  • Rayshawn DeShawn
  • Rayshawn Lamar

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Barnabas

Sebastian Cornelius Archibald Gideon Persephone

If you choose Rayshawn

Devontae Rashawn Deshawn Jashawn Antoinette

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Barnabas or Rayshawn more popular?

Rayshawn is more popular, ranked #4476 compared to Barnabas at #4616 in the United States.

What do Barnabas and Rayshawn mean?

Barnabas means "son of encouragement" (Aramaic origin). Rayshawn means "ray of light + God is gracious" (English + Irish/Hebrew origin).

Are Barnabas and Rayshawn boy or girl names?

Barnabas is primarily a boy name. Rayshawn is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

Rayshawn vs Barnabas Barnabas vs Island Barnabas vs Janson Barnabas vs Desean Barnabas vs Rosendo
← Full profile: Barnabas ← Full profile: Rayshawn Browse all baby names