Derived from the Chinese character 巴 (bā) meaning "to greatly desire" or referred to a mythological snake. It can also derive from 芭 (bā) referred to a kind of fragrant grass or 笆 (bā) meaning "bamboo fence".Other characters combinations are also possible.
Possibly from Egyptian bꜣ (ba), the part of the soul that makes an individual unique according to the Ancient Egyptian conception of the soul. This was the throne name of an early Egyptian or ancient Egyptian king who may have ruled at the end of the 1st Dynasty, the latter part of 2nd Dynasty or during the 3rd Dynasty.