Babar () is Amazigh (the Hamitic language of the Berbers), meaning the Lion's Master, from Bab 'master' (=chaoui) and Ar 'Lion'.

It is the opening to the Berberian lion's Atlas range territory, to Sheshar (Chechar) and Seiar (Seïar).

Babra was among the many town important enough in the Roman province of Numidia to become a suffragan diocese in the papal sway.

Its only historically certain incumbent was Victorinus Babrensis, on the list of Catholic bishops attending the Council called at Carthage in 484 by king Huneric of the Vandal Kingdom, annotated in Latin "prbt" (peribat), indicating he died shortly afterwards, perhaps in (or before he could be sent in) exile, as most opponents of the heresy Donatism were.

Morcelli also counts as incumbent of Babra Petrus (AD 592), which other authors hold to have been bishop of Barica, another Numidian see.