Barbara
Barbara is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Foreign, strange, or non-Greek speaking.
Origin and history
Barbara derives from the Ancient Greek word 'barbaros', meaning foreign or strange. While overwhelmingly used as a feminine name in modern times, it has historically appeared as a rare masculine name in early record-keeping. In the United States, masculine usage was historically sparse and is now extremely uncommon.
Popularity in the United States
4,136 babies in the United States have been named Barbara since 1880. It ranks #1946 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- NY (21.1 %)
- PA (10.8 %)
- IL (9.3 %)
- CA (8.1 %)
- OH (7.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 32 |
| 1920-1930 | 261 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,188 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,158 |
| 1950-1960 | 693 |
| 1960-1970 | 503 |
| 1970-1980 | 162 |
| 1980-1990 | 113 |
| 1990-2000 | 26 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Fun facts
- The underlying Greek word 'barbaros' was originally an onomatopoeia imitating the incomprehensible sound of foreign tongues to Greek ears.
- In 19th and early 20th-century American census records, Barbara occasionally appeared as a male given name, often due to familial traditions or translation of foreign names.