Baptist \b(a)-pti-st, bap-tist\ as a boy's name is of Latin and Greek origin, and the meaning of Baptist is "to dip". English form of Church Latin "baptista", Greek "baptistes", from "baptein". The Christian prophet John the Baptist baptized Jesus with water in the River Jordan. The Spanish form is Bautista; Battista is Italian; Baptiste is French.

Baptist has 5 variant forms: Babtysta, Baptiste, Battista, Battiste and Bautista.