Barbara

“Foreigner, stranger” — Greek via Latin origin

Girl's name · #968 in the US (2025) · Heirloom

Barbara was #2 back in 1937, spent 21 years inside the national top 5, and stands at #968 today. About 1.4 million girls have carried it since 1880. Barbara's short forms are Barbie and Babs. Earlier generations knew Barb — the standard of the 1960s.

Around the world: #45 in Poland (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 21 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Barbaras

Barbara McClintock — American scientist and cytogeneticist
Barbara Stanwyck — American actress (1907–1990)
Barbara Bush — First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993 (1925–2018)
Barbara Walters — American broadcast journalist (1929–2022)
Barbara Cartland — English writer and media personality (1901-2000)

In stories & tradition

Barbara Gordon — Batman: Gotham City Racer · Batman: Vengeance
Barbara Wright — Doctor Who
Barbara Jeziorkowska — Fire in the Steppe · Colonel Wolodyjowski

What Barbaras become

Among 8,266 notable people named Barbara:

Medical professionals appear 1.98× more often than among typical names — e.g. Barbara Nath-Wiser, Austrian physician.

Similar names: Ann · Bayleigh · Sandra · Kathleen · Patricia · Carolyn

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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