Barbara
Origin of the name Barbara:
Latin name derived from barbarus (foreign, strange), a term applied to non-Romans or those deemed to be uncivilized. Var: Barbra. Short: Barb. Pet: Babs, Barbi, Barbie.
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman. Buy the bookDoes Barbara sound...
Sibling Names for Barbara...
Do you know any real life Barbaras?
What are their siblings named?
Reader Contributions
Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Barbara!
- Comments and insights on the name Barbara: | Edit
This is a beautiful classic name, which unfortunately has been downgraded for a long time because of the Barbie doll connection. It could make a comeback in the next few years, as names popular in the 1930s and 1940s begin coming back.
- Personal experiences with the name Barbara: | Edit
My sister's name is Barbara, and I can say she has a great experience with her name.
For me, as her sister, it's a very beautiful name and I like to call her name. This name has very positive vibrations.- Nicknames for Barbara: | Edit
Barb, Barbie, Babs, Bobbie, Bar, Barbra
- Meanings and history of the name Barbara: | Edit
The name Barbara comes from the same root as the word "barbarian"; in Latin, it meant a stranger, someone who spoke a foreign language, which to the Roman ear sounded like "ba ba".
- Famous real-life people named Barbara: | Edit
St. Barbara, virgin and martyr, patron of artillery and fireworks
Barbara Villiers, Lady Castlemaine; mistress of Charles II of England
Barbra Streisand, singer and actress
Barbara Billingsley, actress
Barbara Eden, actress
Barbara Bach, actress and wife of Ringo Starr
Barbara Stanwyck, actress
Barbara Carrera, actress
Barbara Hershey, actress
Barbara Bel Geddes, actress
Barbara Tuchman, American historian, author and journalist. First woman to win the Pulitzer prize twice.
Barbara Bain, actress
Barbara Bush, U.S. first lady
Barbara Mandrell, singer- Barbara in song, story & screen: | Edit
Barbara, poem by Jacques Prevert
Barbarella
"Barbara Allen" (alternatively, "Barbara Ellen") is a folk ballad sung in every English-speaking country. It dates to at least the 18th century
"Barbara Ann" is a 1960s pop song whose best-known version is by the Beach Boys
"Major Barbara", play by George Bernard Shaw
The Barbie doll, one of the most popular toys of all time, was invented by Ruth Handler and named for her daughter.
Barbara Gordon, Gotham City librarian, Batgirl's secret identity (Batman Comics)
Barbara Cooper, character on '70s sitcom "One Day at a Time" played by Valerie Bertinelli
NameVoyager US Popularity of Barbara Over Time
NameMapper Current Popularity of Barbara by State
Global Popularity of the Name Barbara
- #27 in Hungary
- #758 in United States
Baby Name Wizard Store
Celebrate with personalized baby name products! Custom birth announcements, invitations, bibs, onesies & more.
Start Shopping