About the name Varnava / Barnabas
Etymology & meaning
Varnava comes from the Aramaic Bar-Nabba — "son of consolation", the name the apostles gave the Levite Joseph of Cyprus. A character-name, bestowed for his gift of encouragement.
History & patron saint
The Holy Apostle Barnabas (11 June) is one of the Seventy — companion of Paul on his first missionary journey and founder of the church of Cyprus, where he died a martyr. Acts calls him "a good man, full of the Holy Spirit".
Traditions & customs
The name day is a quiet early-summer one — treats at home with the first summer fruit. Wishes follow the name's sense: "to console and be consoled".
Popularity & notable bearers
Varnava is an almost wholly monastic name in Bulgaria — borne by clergy and bishops; a rarity in the civil registers, which gives it a distinct profile.