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: How popular is the name Barbara?

According to the latest SSA data, Barbara is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Barbara a boy name?

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

male

Updated 6 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 Unique Rare

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

UnrankedNot ranked in 2024

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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

Unranked

Barbara did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

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

Babs

Nickname

Babsy

Nickname

barb

Nickname

bie

Nickname

bary

Nickname

bara

Nickname

aray

Nickname

bbie

Nickname

rbay

Nickname

Similar Names to Barbara

male

Anthony

AN-thuh-nee

“Priceless; Invaluable”

#44

|Latin

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Andrew

AN-droo

“Manly; Strong”

#68

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Alexander

al-ig-ZAN-der

“Defender of Men”

#27

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Aaron

AIR-un

“Exalted; Mountain of Strength”

#79

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Adam

AD-um

“Human, Earth”

#100

|Hebrew

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Arthur

AR-ther

“Bear Man”

#105

|Celtic

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Albert

AL-bert

“Noble Bright”

#606

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male

Austin

AW-stun

“Great, Venerable”

#107

|Latin

male

Alex

“Defender”

#205

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Allen

“Handsome; Harmonious”

#573

|Celtic

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.

20 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 not ranked 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 boy name?

Barbara is traditionally a boy 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, Babs, Babsy, 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

Trend→ Stable

Starts withB

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Andreas Alexzander Alexandro Andrea Alexandre

Sisters

Agnes Angeline Asia Angelia Alexus

Explore More Boy 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 Unique Baby Names and Biblical Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Latin Baby Names and Royal 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.