Barbara

Q: What is the origin of Barbara?

Barbara is of Greek origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: Is Barbara a girl name?

Barbara is traditionally a girl name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

female

Updated 7 months ago

Meaning

"Foreign Woman"

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

Themes:foreigngreeksaintlanguage

Biblical Royal Regal

Fact-checked by Dr. Elena Vasquez

Ph.D. Medieval History, StanfordPublished Academic ResearcherHistory Professor (Adjunct) • Historical Names Consultant

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

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.

Year

Selected Year Rank

#860

Barbara was nationally ranked in 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

+16

better than 2023

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Barbara Nicknames

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

13 ideas

Barb

Nickname

Barbie

Nickname

Babs

Nickname

barb

Nickname

bary

Nickname

bara

Nickname

bie

Nickname

aray

Nickname

rbay

Nickname

bbie

Nickname

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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

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Barbara mean?

Barbara means "Foreign Woman". From Greek barbaros meaning foreign, it entered Christian naming through Saint Barbara and persists across many European

What is the origin of Barbara?

Barbara is of Greek origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Barbara?

According to the latest SSA data, Barbara is currently ranked #860 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Barbara a girl name?

Barbara is traditionally a girl name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Barbara?

Popular nicknames for Barbara include Barb, Barbie, Babs, barb, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Barbara?

There are many names similar to Barbara in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginGreek, Latin, English

Syllables3

Length7 letters

US Rank#860

Trend↑ Rising

Starts withB

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Alec Alessandro Ambrose Anders Alessio

Sisters

Alexis Alexa Angie Alejandra Alexia

Explore More Girl Names Like Barbara

Barbara has Greek roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Greek baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Barbara appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Biblical Baby Names and Latin Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Royal Baby Names and Classic Greek Baby Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Barbara pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Barbara beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.