The names Barack and Baraka are Swahili, from an Arabic root meaning "blessing." They have been used primarily in East Africa--but that was before Barack Obama. Obama, who was named after his Kenyan father, has made this name a symbol of a proudly diverse America. Note that Barack is sometimes confused with the Hebrew name Barak ("lightning"). The actual Hebrew equivalent is Beracha ("blessing").

From The Baby Name Wizard by Laura Wattenberg. Buy the book