His first name has always been Barack and his nickname was Barry, just as his father had chosen to go by Barry after coming to the United States. Mose people have nicknames and as they grow to adulthood, often choose to go by their given name instead.

Barack is the anglicized form of Baraka, which means "blessing" in Swahili and is a common name for boys in Kenya, his father's homeland.

The name Barack also is found in the Book of Judges in the Old Testament in the story of  the propethess Deborah who was aided by a valiant military leader with that name