Barak Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BAH-rahk //ˈbɑːræk//
Origin: Hebrew; Arabic
Meaning: Hebrew: 'lightning'; Arabic: 'blessing'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Barak has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the word "barak," which means "lightning." This etymology reflects a vivid imagery associated with speed and power, as lightning is often seen as a force of nature. The name entered the English language through the biblical tradition, particularly from the Hebrew Bible, where it is transliterated into Greek as "Barakos" and later into Latin as "Barac." The name was introduced into English primarily through the King James Version of the Bible, published in 1611, which helped to popularize many biblical names in the English-speaking world.
Historically, Barak is most notably associated with a biblical figure from the Book of Judges, who lived during the time of the Israelite conquest of Canaan, around the 12th century BCE. Barak is depicted as a military leader who, alongside the prophetess Deborah, led the Israelites to victory against the Canaanite general Sisera.
This narrative has contributed to the name's significance within Jewish and Christian traditions, symbolizing bravery and divine guidance in times of conflict. Culturally, the name Barak carries connotations of strength and divine favor, resonating with themes of leadership and victory in both religious and historical contexts.
The name has also been embraced in various forms across different cultures, with variations appearing in languages influenced by Hebrew, such as Arabic, where it is often associated with blessings. The enduring legacy of Barak, particularly through its biblical roots, has allowed it to maintain a place in the lexicon of names with deep historical and spiritual significance.
Famous people named Barak
In this section, you will find notable people named Barak. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Barak who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Barak who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Barak Obama is a politician and author best known for being the 44th President of the United States, winning the Nobel Peace Prize, and authoring Dreams from My Father.
Barak Bachar is a football manager and former player best known for coaching Hapoel Be'er Sheva and playing for the Israeli national team.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Barak, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Barak. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Barak was first seen in the United States in 1953.
Barak has ranked as high as #1354 nationally, which occurred in 2006, and has been most popular in California, New York, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Barak has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Barak is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Barak was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Barak (2022)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Barak.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 18 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2006 | 29 |
| 2005 | 28 |
| 2004 | 18 |
| 2003 | 22 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2000 | 20 |
| 1999 | 21 |
| 1998 | 21 |
| 1997 | 22 |
| 1996 | 24 |
| 1995 | 17 |
| 1994 | 27 |
| 1993 | 21 |
| 1992 | 21 |
| 1991 | 23 |
| 1990 | 17 |
| 1989 | 20 |
| 1988 | 11 |
| 1987 | 8 |
| 1986 | 19 |
| 1985 | 16 |
| 1984 | 12 |
| 1983 | 11 |
| 1982 | 14 |
| 1981 | 21 |
| 1980 | 19 |
| 1979 | 9 |
| 1978 | 14 |
| 1977 | 15 |
| 1976 | 18 |
| 1975 | 14 |
| 1974 | 13 |
| 1973 | 11 |
| 1972 | 13 |
| 1971 | 12 |
| 1970 | 17 |
| 1969 | 13 |
| 1968 | 8 |
| 1967 | 11 |
| 1966 | 10 |
| 1965 | 7 |
| 1962 | 7 |
| 1961 | 7 |
| 1958 | 5 |
| 1953 | 5 |