Barlaam

Meaning

Proper Noun

• A legendary saint in the tale of Barlaam and Josaphat.
• A male given name.

Origin

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