Barlaam

Unknown. The immediate source is Medieval Latin Barlaam, borrowed from Byzantine 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.

Barlaam

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

• Barlaamite

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

• Malabar

Borrowed from Byzantine Greek Βαρλαάμ (Barlaám).

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

1. Barlaam (legendary saint)
2. a male given name, equivalent to English Barlaam