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Barbara

Heart
Latin
"foreign woman"

Barbara Origin and Meaning

The name Barbara is a girl's name of Latin origin meaning "foreign woman".

If you can get the lively young Barbara Bush to replace her grandmother's white-haired image, you might discover a rhythmic classic with an interesting history. Barbara is undoubtedly among the most classic girl names starting with B.

There is the popular third century St. Barbara, who was reputed to have been imprisoned in a tower and so became the patron of architects, stonemasons, fortifications, and geologists. Barbaras appear in works by Dickens and Thackeray and, most notably, as the idealistic protagonist of the George Bernard Shaw play Major Barbara. Noteworthy bearers include actress Barbara Stanwyck (born Ruby), novelist Barbara Pym, TV's Barbara Walters, and "My Name is Barbra" Streisand. Barbara Gordon was the original Batgirl in the comic books.

Barbara entered the Top 100 in 1913, and then the Top 10 a decade and a half later; she held the Number 2 spot from 1937 to 1944. At this point in time, Bebe, Bobbie, or Babs might make a cuter retro nickname than Barbie.

Bottom line: Though she now seems to have a terminally middle-aged image, the classic and lovely Barbara will eventually make a comeback.

# 976 in the US

Barbara Rank in US Top 1000

# 504 on Nameberry

Barbara Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Barbara Popularity

20 Names Similar to Barbara

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Barbara.

Famous People Named Barbara

  • Saint Barbara3rd century martyr
  • Barbara of PortugalQueen consort of Ferdinand VI of Spain
  • Barbara of AustriaDuchess consort of Alfonso II d'Este of Ferrara
  • Barbara Pierce Bushformer U.S. First Lady
  • Barbara Pierce Bush Coynedaughter of former US President George W. Bush and twin of Jenna Bush Hager
  • Barbara Levy BoxerU.S. Senator from California
  • Barbara Ann MikulskiU.S. Senator from Maryland
  • Barbara WaltersAmerican broadcast journalist
  • Barbara LuddyAmerican actress
  • Barbara Stanwyck (born Ruby Catherine Stevens)American actress
  • Eleanor "Barbara" McClintockAmerican cytogeneticist and Nobel Prize winner
  • (Mary) Barbara (Hamilton) CartlandEnglish novelist
  • Barbara Jean (Morehead) EdenAmerican actress
  • Barbara Schett EagleAustrian tennis player
  • Barbara RittnerGerman tennis player
  • Barbara Woolworth HuttonAmerican heiress
  • Barbara PalvinHungarian fashion model
  • Barbara Jo WalkerMiss America 1947
  • Bárbara Micheline do Monte BarbosaBrazilian football player
  • Barbara FialhoBrazilian model
  • Barbara FerreiraAmerican model
  • Barbara MooreAmerican Model Playboy Playmate of the Month for December 1992,
  • Barbara BaldieriAmerican actress

Barbara in Pop Culture

  • Barbara Millicent "Barbie" Robertsfashion doll made by Mattel
  • Barbara Gordon aka Oracle and Batgirlcharacter in the "Batman" series
  • Barbara Eileen Kean Gordonmother of Barbara Gordon; wife of Commissioner Gordon
  • Barbara Fazlinoviccharacter in Bosnian TV's "The Crazy, Confused & Normal"
  • Barbara Brownsteincharacter on TV's "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody"
  • Barbara Wrightcompanion on TV's "Doctor Who" 1963,65
  • Barbara Covettcharacter from "Notes on a Scandal"
  • Barbara Bargacharacter from "SS,GB"
  • Barbara Gilbertmain character on TV's "Call the Midwife"
  • Barbara "Bebe" Stevenscharacter in "South Park"
  • Barbara "Bobbi" Morsecharacter in Marvel comics and "Agents of SHIELD"
  • Barbara "Barb" Hollandcharacter in Netflix's Stranger Things
  • Barbara Lakecharacter in the Netflix series "Trollhunters"
  • "Barbara Ann" song by the Beach Boys
  • "Barbara Allen" folk ballad
  • "Please Don't Ask About Barbara" song by Bobby Vee