Barack, also spelled Barak or Baraq, is a
given name
A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...
of
Arabic
Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
origin. From the Semitic root ''B-R-K'', it means "
blessed" and is most commonly used in its feminine form ''
Baraka
Baraka or Barakah may refer to:
* Berakhah or Baraka, in Judaism, a blessing usually recited during a ceremony
* Barakah or Baraka, in Islam, the beneficent force from God that flows through the physical and spiritual spheres
* Baraka, full ''ḥa ...
(h)''.
The Semitic root is derived from ''B-R-Q'' (; ), meaning "
lightning
Lightning is a natural phenomenon consisting of electrostatic discharges occurring through the atmosphere between two electrically charged regions. One or both regions are within the atmosphere, with the second region sometimes occurring on ...
". Some identify similarities to other Hebrew root words. However, given the specific pronunciation of the name "Barrack" and the extensive history of Masoretic linguistics, reference to other roots inevitably result in distinctly different names.
In
Islamic mysticism
Sufism ( or ) is a mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic purification, spirituality, ritualism, and asceticism.
Practitioners of Sufism are referred to as "Sufis" (from , ), and ...
, ''
Barakah
In Islam, ''Barakah'' or ''Baraka'' ( "blessing") is a blessing power, a kind of continuity of spiritual presence and revelation that begins with God and flows through that and those closest to God.
The Quran is said to be charged with ''barakah' ...
'' () is a concept of spiritual presence or revelation.
The Arabic masculine given name
Mubarak
Muhammad Hosni El Sayed Mubarak (; 4 May 1928 – 25 February 2020) was an Egyptian politician and military officer who served as the fourth president of Egypt from 1981 to 2011 and the 41st prime minister from 1981 to 1982. He was previously ...
is the Arabic
stem III passive participle, ' (), meaning "blessed (one)".
The name is cognate with the
Amharic
Amharic is an Ethio-Semitic language, which is a subgrouping within the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic languages. It is spoken as a first language by the Amhara people, and also serves as a lingua franca for all other metropolitan populati ...
given name ብሩክ ("Biruk").
People with the given name
*
Barack Adama
Sexion d'Assaut (), formerly known as 3ème Prototype (for "Troisième Prototype" ), was a French hip hop band formed in 2002, composed of eight Parisian rappers. They are signed to independent record label Wati B, which is under exclusive licen ...
(born 1985), a French rapper
*
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...
(born 1961), former US president
*
Barack Obama Sr.
Barack Hussein Obama Sr. (; born Baraka Obama, 18 June 1934 – 24 November 1982) was a Kenyan senior governmental economist and the father of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States. He is a central figure of his son's memoir, ' ...
(1936–1982), father of Barack Obama and Kenyan economist
People with the surname
*
Ghiyas-ud-din Baraq
Baraq ( Chagatai and Persian: غیاث الدین براق) was Khan of the Chagatai Khanate (1266–1271). He was a son of Yesünto'a and a great-grandson of Chagatai Khan. A convert to Islam, he took the name Ghiyas-ud-din.
Background
Baraq ...
(1266–1271), a Khan of the Chagatai Khanate
*
Moisés Barack
Moisés Barack Caycho (26 December 1943 – 9 April 2024) was a Peruvian football player and manager. He was the head manager of the Peru national team from 1984 to 1985, and was at the time of his death the head manager of Deportivo Garcilaso i ...
(1943–2024), a Peruvian footballer
Fictional characters
*The protagonist of ''
Barack the Barbarian'', a comic book series
See also
*
Arabic name
Arabic names have historically been based on a long naming system. Many people from Arabic-speaking and also non-Arab Muslim countries have not had given name, given, middle name, middle, and family names but rather a chain of names. This system ...
*
*
Barak (given name)
*
Barak (surname)
*
Burak (name)
Burak is a Turkish language, Turkish masculine name that derives from the Arabic language, Arabic Buraq, which literally means "lightning" and refers to a creature that transports prophets in Arabic tradition.
Given name
* Burak Abay (born 1996 ...
*
Burack
*
*
Mubarak (name)
References
{{given name
Arabic-language masculine given names
Masculine given names