Boy name · Aramaic
Bartholomew
“son of Talmai”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Bartholomew.
Explore Bartholomew further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Bartholomew — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Bartholomew is bar-Talmai, son of Talmai — a patronymic rather than a personal name, which is why he is often identified with Nathanael, on the reasonable theory that the gospels are giving one man's given name and another's father.
It was a top-ten English name in the thirteenth century, gave us Bart, Bartlett and the London hospital called Barts, and then fell almost entirely out of use.
Four syllables, said bar-THOL-om-yoo. Long, so a one-syllable middle is the only comfortable choice. On our vibe map it is Heirloom with Dark Academia weight.
More Aramaic names
Bartholomew sits in our Aramaic set — these share its roots.
All Aramaic names →Bartholomew — common questions
Is Bartholomew a boy or girl name?
Bartholomew is traditionally a boy name of Aramaic origin.
What does the name Bartholomew mean?
Bartholomew means “son of Talmai” of Aramaic origin. Bartholomew is bar-Talmai, son of Talmai — a patronymic rather than a personal name, which is why he is often identified with Nathanael, on the reasonable theory that the gospels are giving one man's given name and another's father.
Where does the name Bartholomew come from?
Bartholomew is Aramaic in origin. It was a top-ten English name in the thirteenth century, gave us Bart, Bartlett and the London hospital called Barts, and then fell almost entirely out of use.
What are common nicknames for Bartholomew?
Bart, Tolly, and Bartie — the short-forms parents most often use for Bartholomew.
How popular is Bartholomew?
Bartholomew did not make the top 1,000 boys' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Bartholomew you might want for the nursery.