Bartholomew
Bartholomew: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /bɑːˈθɒləmjuː/ · /ˈbɑːtəlmi/
Meaning and origin of Bartholomew
- A male given name from Aramaic of biblical origin.
Etymology
From Latin Bartholomaeus, from Ancient Greek Βαρθολομαῖος (Bartholomaîos), from Aramaic בר תלמי (bar tolmai, “son of Talmai; son of Ptolemy”), from בר (bar, “son”) and תלמי (tolmai, “Talmai; Ptolemy”). It has long been unclear whether the Apostle's father was named after the biblical Talmai, king of Geshur, or one of the Greek Ptolemies, as the two originally unrelated names were conflated in Jewish Aramaic. The name's pronunciation was changed to match the spelling; contrast French Barthélemy from the same source.
How popular is Bartholomew?
Since 1880, 4,271 boys in the U.S. have been named Bartholomew. Its highest rank for boys was #481 in 1885. In 2025, 39 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Bartholomew
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Aramaic boy names
Sibling name ideas for Bartholomew
Sister and brother names that share Bartholomew's Aramaic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Bartholomew FAQ
What does the name Bartholomew mean?
A male given name from Aramaic of biblical origin. From Latin Bartholomaeus, from Ancient Greek Βαρθολομαῖος (Bartholomaîos), from Aramaic בר תלמי (bar tolmai, “son of Talmai; son of Ptolemy”), from בר (bar, “son”) and תלמי (tolmai, “Talmai; Ptolemy”). It has long been unclear whether the Apostle's father was named after the biblical Talmai, king of Geshur, or one of the Greek Ptolemies, as the two originally unrelated names were conflated in Jewish Aramaic. The name's pronunciation was changed to match the spelling; contrast French Barthélemy from the same source.
What is the origin of the name Bartholomew?
Bartholomew is listed as a name of Aramaic origin.
How popular is the name Bartholomew?
Since 1880, 4,271 boys in the U.S. have been named Bartholomew. Its highest rank for boys was #481 in 1885. In 2025, 39 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Bartholomew a boy or girl name?
Bartholomew is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 0 girls and 4,271 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.