Barvai was formerly part of the German Empire. In the German Empire, the place was called Groß Barwen.
The place is now called Barvai and belongs to Lithuania.
| Historical place name | Country | Administration | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groß-Barwen | German Empire | Heydekrug | before the Versailles Treaty |
| Didieji Barvai | Lithuania | Šilutė | after the Versailles Treaty |
| Groß Barwen | German Empire | Heydekrug | 1939 |
| Barvai | Soviet Union | Šilutė/Šilute | 1945 |
| Barvaj | Soviet Union | Šilutė/Šilute | 1945 |
| Barvai | Lithuania | Šilutė | 1992 |