Barbara
Barbara is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Foreign woman, stranger.
Origin and history
Barbara is derived from the Greek word 'barbaros', meaning foreign or strange. It was a exceptionally popular classic name in the U.S. during the mid-20th century, reaching top rankings. Though less common for newborns today, it remains a quintessential, widely recognized heritage name.
Popularity in the United States
1,436,695 babies in the United States have been named Barbara since 1880. It ranks #6 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #867.
States where it is most popular
- NY (10.3 %)
- PA (7.2 %)
- CA (6.1 %)
- IL (5.8 %)
- OH (5.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,820 |
| 1890-1900 | 2,783 |
| 1900-1910 | 3,999 |
| 1910-1920 | 23,704 |
| 1920-1930 | 97,210 |
| 1930-1940 | 296,420 |
| 1940-1950 | 425,271 |
| 1950-1960 | 345,722 |
| 1960-1970 | 159,773 |
| 1970-1980 | 42,237 |
| 1980-1990 | 19,139 |
| 1990-2000 | 8,859 |
| 2000-2010 | 4,730 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,263 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,765 |
Famous people named Barbara
- Barbara Stanwyck: Actress
- Barbara Streisand: Singer, Actress
- Barbara Bush: First Lady, Advocate
Nicknames
Barb, Barbie, Babs
Fun facts
- Barbara was the second most popular girl name in the United States for several years during the 1930s.
- The iconic Barbie doll, introduced in 1959, was named after creator Ruth Handler's daughter, Barbara.