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NamyLab

Barbara

female

Meaning

"Foreign Woman"

From Greek barbaros meaning foreign, it entered Christian naming through Saint Barbara and persists across many European languages.

BiblicalRoyalRegal

Popularity History of Barbara

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#860Top 1000

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Selected Year Rank
#860

Barbara was nationally ranked in 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year
+16

better than 2023

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, latest release 2024. Names used fewer than 5 times in a given year are not ranked.

Barbara Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Barbara.

3 ideas
Barb
Nickname
Barbie
Nickname
Babs
Nickname

Similar Names to Barbara

female

Anna

AN-uh

“Grace; Favor”

#94
|Hebrew
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Ashley

“Ash Tree Clearing”

#124
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Amanda

uh-MAN-duh

“Worthy of Love”

#496
|Latin
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Amy

AY-mee

“Beloved”

#228
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female

Angela

AN-juh-luh

“Messenger; Angel”

#282
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female

Alice

“Noble Kind”

#62
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female

Ann

“Grace, Favor”

#1141
|Hebrew
female

Andrea

“Manly, Courageous”

#185
|Greek
female

Abigail

AB-ih-gayl

“My Father Is Joy”

#32
|Hebrew
female

Amber

“Amber Resin”

#541
|Arabic

Baby Name Lists That Include Barbara

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Barbara, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

21 linked lists

Famous Barbaras

  • B
    Barbara Streisand
    American singer, actress and filmmaker with multiple Grammy and Oscar wins
  • B
    Barbara Bush
    First Lady of the United States, wife of President George H.W. Bush

Quick Facts

OriginGreek, Latin, English
Syllables3
Length7 letters

Sibling Ideas