See the results of this poll: Barnabas or Barnaby?
Respondents: 23 (This poll is closed)
- Barnabas : 8 (35%)
- Barnaby: 15 (65%)
I like [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] better than [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m], and I think [name_m]Barns[/name_m] as a nn is beyond adorable! It has a nice feel to it. The [name_m]Barney[/name_m] thing is a potential pitfall, though. I like to think (and not everyone agrees) that you can establish a nn early and decrease the chances your child ends up with a different nn.
I like them both but I like [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m] slightly better. They both sound steampunk and cool to me, like someone on an airship who invents cool things and has ink stained fingers. [name_m]Barnabus[/name_m] is more serious. In my imaginings, he’s in the library doing his thing while [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m] is more adventurous and hanging off the railing of the airship, wind in his hair.
I think he’s likely to get [name_m]Barney[/name_m] but I think if you push it, people will call him whatever you like. [name_m]Barnes[/name_m] would be what I’d want too.
Thank you so much! [name_m]Both[/name_m] are really cute especially with the nickname [name_m]Barns[/name_m]/[name_m]Barnes[/name_m]. I don’t know which one to chose. I’m just worried about the [name_m]Barney[/name_m] thing. Not only because of the dinosaur but I also know a [name_m]Barney[/name_m] who is a grown man with some issues so different associations for me with that.
It’s a matter of being pushy when it comes to the nickname. Everyone on here told me [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] would be called [name_u]Percy[/name_u]. Not one person has called her person. Lots of people call her by a nickname but never [name_u]Percy[/name_u]. Any time someone starts to, I say “No, if you must use a nickname, use Sephy. Otherwise it’s her full name please.” And I’ve never had a problem. The only time I actually had to get sort of rude was when someone kept insisting on calling her [name_f]Willow[/name_f] and then it was “If you refuse to use her full name, it’s Sephy or nothing at all.”
So, with [name_m]Barnes[/name_m], just get pushy. “If you’d like to use a nickname, we prefer [name_m]Barnes[/name_m].” It doesn’t take much to get people to do it. 
Thanks, I can totally see that. [name_m]How[/name_m] annoying that someone insisted on calling her something other name her first name or preferred nickname. My response would probably be the same as yours. [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] is a beautiful name by the way. My first thought would be Sephy for a nickname, not [name_u]Percy[/name_u]. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though both are cute of course. I would definitely be pushy with [name_m]Barnes[/name_m] if someone were to call him [name_m]Barney[/name_m]. Thanks again! 
I prefer [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m], with a very sweet angelic little blonde cousin of mine being called that - he was [name_f]Barbie[/name_f] when he was very little, but soon switched to [name_m]Barney[/name_m]. I think [name_m]Barnes[/name_m] would be more intuitive than [name_m]Barney[/name_m], really. It’s lovely!
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] nn [name_m]Barns[/name_m] is nice.
I know a boy named [name_m]Banks[/name_m] and it fits him to a T.
Thank you! It’s like split down the middle for either [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] or [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m]! I would be happy with either so I’m not sure. Thanks again!
Added a poll! Thanks
I prefer [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m]. It just has a warmer, more intellectual feel to it.
I was just singing the praises of [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m] to a friend this week! I think the -aby ending is so jaunty, but it’s a gentleman’s name at the same time. [name_m]Barnes[/name_m] is great - I may have to snatch it if I ever have a boy and [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m] makes the short list.
Congratulations!
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] and [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m] are two of my favorite names.
Choose [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] if you want a more-vintage-sounding version.
Choose [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m] if you want a less-vintage-sounding version.
[name_m]Both[/name_m] are wonderfully quirky and downright adorable.
but I [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m].
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] makes me think of a hairy Biblical man whereas [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m] sounds jaunty and cheery and fun, while still being a classic, real name.
Thank you!
I really like both names, but I prefer [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m] which is on my own list. I preferred nn for it is actually [name_m]Barney[/name_m], but no one on here seems to like it! I do think [name_m]Barnes[/name_m] works really well too though and I agree with others that you can correct people if you have to.
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] is serious and heavy. [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m] is spunky and light. I prefer [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m].
Edited for privacy.
I love [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m]! [name_m]Barns[/name_m]/[name_m]Barnes[/name_m] is a great nickname. It may be one of those things where he’d get called [name_m]Barney[/name_m] once or twice, but you can always correct people. I think it would come up more in the Middle School-High School-College time, and he can always tell people what he wants to be called then. [name_m]Just[/name_m] a personal suggestion, if I had a son named [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m], I’d have him grow up watching more of The [name_u]Andy[/name_u] [name_m]Griffith[/name_m] Show (with [name_m]Barney[/name_m] [name_u]Fife[/name_u]) than of [name_m]Barney[/name_m] of the big purple dinosaur. In times like middle school when he’ll probably be more self conscious, if one of his friends calls him [name_m]Barney[/name_m], he won’t be thinking right away of the little kids’ sing-songy character and be embarassed, he’ll be thinking of the cool, silly deputy & right hand man of [name_u]Andy[/name_u] [name_u]Taylor[/name_u].