Barlaam

See also: Balaam

English

Etymology

Unknown. The immediate source is Medieval Latin Barlaam, itself borrowed from Medieval Greek Βαρλαάμ (Barlaám) in the Byzantine Life of Barlaam and Josaphat (probably 11th c.), itself likely borrowed from Georgian ბალაჰვარ (balahvar). First attested c. 8th century as Arabic بِلَوْهَر (bilawhar), perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit भगवान् (bhagavān, “God”) or from Sanskrit पुरोहित (purohita, “priest”) via an unattested Middle Persian form.

Proper noun

Barlaam

1. (Christianity) A legendary saint in the tale of Barlaam and Josaphat.
2. (rare) A male given name from Latin.

Derived terms

• Barlaamite

References

• Almuth Degener (2014), “Barlaam the Priest”, in Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, volume 164, number 2, pages 527–530

Anagrams

• Malabar

Italian

Etymology

Unknown. The immediate source is Medieval Latin Barlaam, itself borrowed from Medieval Greek Βαρλαάμ (Barlaám), in the Byzantine Life of Barlaam and Josaphat (probably 11th c.), itself likely borrowed from Georgian ბალაჰვარ (balahvar). First attested c. 8th century as Arabic بِلَوْهَر (bilawhar), perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit भगवान् (bhagavān, “God”) or from Sanskrit पुरोहित (purohita, “priest”) via an unattested Middle Persian form.

Proper noun

Barlaam m

1. (Christianity) A legendary saint in the tale of Barlaam and Josaphat.
2. (rare) a male given name from Latin.

Proper noun

Barlaam m or f by sense

1. a surname originating as a patronymic

Further reading

• Stefano Ravara (2015–2026), Mappa dei Cognomi‎^[1]

Latin

Etymology

Unknown. Borrowed from Medieval Greek Βαρλαάμ (Barlaám), in the Byzantine Life of Barlaam and Josaphat (probably 11th c.), itself likely borrowed from Georgian ბალაჰვარ (balahvar). First attested c. 8th century as Arabic بِلَوْهَر (bilawhar), perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit भगवान् (bhagavān, “God”) or from Sanskrit पुरोहित (purohita, “priest”) via an unattested Middle Persian form.

Proper noun

Barlaam m sg (indeclinable) (Medieval Latin, Ecclesiastical Latin)

1. (Christianity) A legendary saint in the tale of Barlaam and Josaphat.
2. a male given name, equivalent to English Barlaam

Descendants

• → English: Barlaam
• → Italian: Barlaam (learned)