Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Bartholomew
BoyAramaic, Greek· “son of Talmai”
- Meaning
- son of Talmai
- Origin
- Aramaic, Greek
- Pronunciation
- bar-THAH-luh-myoo
- Syllables
- 4
- US rank 2025
- #3,093
- US babies 2025
- 39
- Best rank
- #481 (1885)
- Peak year
- 1969
Meaning and origin of Bartholomew
Bartholomew is an Aramaic and Greek name that means “son of Talmai”.
Bartholomew comes from the Aramaic Bar-Talmai, son of Talmai, passed into English through Greek and Latin. Bartholomew is one of the twelve apostles, often identified with Nathanael, and the saint's feast was a major event in medieval England, when Bartholomew Fair was held in London for centuries. The name was common among English men in the Middle Ages and gave rise to surnames such as Bartlett and Batt. It is said bar-THAH-luh-myoo, four syllables with the stress on the second. Bart and Barty are the traditional short forms. Today it has a scholarly, old-world charm similar to Theodore or Ambrose.
Popularity over time
Bartholomew has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 29 different years. Its best national rank was #481 in 1885, and the most babies received it in 1969, when 75 were named Bartholomew. In 2025, 39 babies were named Bartholomew, and it ranked #3,093 nationally. That is 95% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #1,119 in 1920, #1,258 in 1950, #1,070 in 1980, #3,222 in 2000, #7,646 in 2010, and #3,093 in 2025. Of the 4,271 US boys named Bartholomew since records began, 14% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 558 babies. Since 2010, 389 more have been named Bartholomew.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Vinson, Shan, Luigi, Boris, and Keir.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Bartholomew ranked highest in Kansas and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | #599 | 5 |
| California | #2020 | 7 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Bartholomew is usually pronounced bar-THAH-luh-myoo, with four syllables. It has 11 letters, starts with B and ends in “-ew”.
Middle names for Bartholomew
A few middle names that flow with Bartholomew: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Bartholomew
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Lists that include Bartholomew
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Bartholomew mean?
Bartholomew is an Aramaic and Greek name that means “son of Talmai”.
What is the origin of the name Bartholomew?
Bartholomew has Aramaic and Greek roots. Bartholomew comes from the Aramaic Bar-Talmai, son of Talmai, passed into English through Greek and Latin.
Is Bartholomew a popular name?
Not especially. Bartholomew ranked #3,093 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Bartholomew a boy or girl name?
Bartholomew is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Bartholomew?
Bartholomew is usually pronounced bar-THAH-luh-myoo. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings