The first name Barack
A boy’s name from Arabic.
Pronounced /bəˈɹɑk/ 2 syllables Male
Meaning and origin
Arabic origin
Anglicized spelling, used by Luo speakers, of Barak, ostensibly as an Old Testament name. A cognate of the biblical Baruch.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
Barack last appeared in the official list in 2010, given to 4 boys. It peaked in 2009, with 17 births (#1,358).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Barack with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Barack at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 6 boys born in the United States were named Barack, the 10,858th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2009, when 71 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Barack in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Barack in German and Portuguese too.
Nicknames and spellings
Nicknames for Barack
Famous people named Barack
2 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Barack Obama44th President of the United States (2009–2017)
- Barack Obama Sr.Economist and father of Barack Obama Jr. (1934–1982)
More Arabic boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Barack mean?
- Anglicized spelling, used by Luo speakers, of Barak, ostensibly as an Old Testament name. A cognate of the biblical Baruch.
- What is the origin of the name Barack?
- Anglicized spelling, used by Luo speakers, of Barak, ostensibly as an Old Testament name. A cognate of the biblical Baruch.
- How popular is the name Barack?
- In 2010, 4 boys born in England and Wales were named Barack, ranking 3,865th. Its peak was 2009, with 17 births.
- What are nicknames for Barack?
- Common nicknames for Barack include Barry.
- Is Barack a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 312 US babies named Barack since 1880 were boys.
- When was Barack most popular?
- 2009 in the United States, when 71 babies were named Barack, its highest rank at 1,977th.
- How do you pronounce Barack?
- Barack is /bəˈɹɑk/, 2 syllables.