Barney

The listing is missing an etymology. I see that Hanks et al only give 'Barnaby' and 'Barnabus' in their Oxford publication, 'First Names', but in 'The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland', they show that the English last name Barnaby comes from the town in Norfolk, with no mention of Barnaby or Barnabus, and which seems equally as likely as an origin for the English given name.

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The Key to English Place Names gives the etymology of Barney as: "Uncertain. '*Bera's island', 'barn island' or perhaps, 'barley island'."
Source: http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Barney

The original Aramaic form is unattested, but it may be from בּר נביא (bar naviya') meaning "son of the prophet", though in Acts 4:36 it is claimed that the name means "son of encouragement". As an English name, it came into occasional use after the 12th century.

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My maiden name is Barney, and I’m female. I chose the positive meaning of this name - One who Encourages. It is a name of honor, not to be ashamed of. Our modern TV and movies have used this name for comedic characters, I live to make others laugh... this is a form of Encouragement which we all need in these days.