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Bartholomew

♂ Boy

Pronounced bar-THOL-ə-myoo /bɑrˈθɑl.ə.mju/High

Meaning: Son of Talmai — an Aramaic patronymic, Talmai possibly meaning 'furrows'; the apostle's name in full ceremonial dressMedium

In 30 seconds: Four syllables of stained glass: Bartholomew — 'son of Talmai', perhaps 'of the furrows' — is the apostle's name at maximum wingspan. Bart waits below for casual Fridays.

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Origin HighAramaic, Greek

MeaningSon of Talmai — an Aramaic patronymic, Talmai possibly meaning 'furrows'; the apostle's name in full ceremonial dress

U.S. rank (2025)#3093 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births39 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1969

Total births (all-time)≈ 4,271

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Bartholomew is the Aramaic patronymic bar Talmai — 'son of Talmai', a name possibly meaning 'furrows' — borne by the apostle tradition sends to India and Armenia. Medieval England loved it (St. Bartholomew's Hospital, 'Barts', dates to 1123), and it seeded surnames from Bates to Bartlett.

The Simpsons' Bart is its most famous modern fragment — an irony for so stately a name. Full Bartholomew is now a rare, grand choice with a dozen nicknames in its folds.

Did you know? The apostle Bartholomew is widely identified with Nathanael of John's Gospel — meaning the church's Bartholomew may have spent the Gospels under a different first name entirely.

Overall data confidence 85%

Behind the Name — Bartholomew — etymology

Variations

BartholomeusBartolomeoBartlett

Nicknames

BartBartyTolly

Famous Bearers

★Bartholomew the Apostle
one of the twelve apostles of Jesus in the New Testament
★Bartholomew Roberts (1682-1722)
Welsh pirate known as Black Bart, among the most successful of the Golden Age of Piracy
★Bartholomew Diaz (Bartolomeu Dias)
Portuguese explorer who rounded the Cape of Good Hope

If you like Bartholomew…

Theodore— a fellow grand classic revived through its nicknames

Sebastian— the four-syllable saint's name that returned first

Nathanael— the apostle's possible other name in the Gospels

Theophilus— another biblical pick

Timoteo— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Bartholomew

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Bartholomew mean?

Bartholomew is an Aramaic patronymic meaning 'son of Talmai', Talmai possibly meaning 'furrows'.

How do you pronounce Bartholomew?

It's said bar-THOL-ə-myoo /bɑrˈθɑl.ə.mju/ — four syllables, stress on the second.

Is Bartholomew a boy or girl name?

Bartholomew is a boy's name.

How popular is Bartholomew?

Bartholomew is a rare grand classic in the U.S. today.