Barb Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Barb originates from the Greek word 'barbaros,' meaning 'foreign' or 'strange.' It evolved from Barbara, a name used since the early Christian era, particularly associated with a saint. Barb conveys traits of friendliness and approachability, with no significant biblical relevance. The name has grown in popularity as a diminutive form in the modern era.
The name Barb is most popular in Minnesota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Barb has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Barb' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4250th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 731st out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2894th out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Barb' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Barb"
Pronunciation
/bɑrb/
Origin
English
Etymology
The name Barb is a diminutive form of Barbara, which is derived from the Greek word 'barbaros,' meaning 'foreign' or 'strange.' It was originally used to describe non-Greek speakers.
Meaning
foreign, strange
Language Evolution
Barbara (Latin), Barbaros (Greek), Barb (English diminutive)
Historical Usage
The name Barbara has been used since the early Christian era, especially in reference to Saint Barbara, a popular figure in Christian hagiography. The diminutive Barb became more common in the 20th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Barbara, Barbie, Babs
Modern Popularity & Image
Barb is often perceived as a friendly and approachable name, with a casual and informal connotation. It has seen a rise in popularity as a standalone name, especially in recent decades.
Famous People
Barbados-born singer Barbadian, Barb Dwyer, a fictional character in various media
Explore More Barb Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Barb"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Barb"
"Barb" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4250th of 9204 | 81 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 731st of 12526 | 3,374 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2894th of 19264 | 398 |
Regional Popularity of "Barb" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Barb" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
83.70% 1294th/1546 |
- | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
17.56% 391st/2227 |
35.43% 861st/2430 |
- |
36.07% 1001st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
38.82% 1140th/2937 |
64.40% 2243rd/3483 |
- |
100.00% 4044th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Barb"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Barb" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.