Barbara Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Barbara originates from the Greek word for 'foreign,' reflecting its historical roots. It has evolved through various languages, maintaining its essence of otherness. The name is associated with strength, primarily due to the legacy of Saint Barbara. It is not linked to biblical texts but has a rich historical context. While once popular, it is now viewed as a classic name with notable figures bearing it.
The name Barbara is most popular in District of Columbia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Silent Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. 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, Barbara has been stalled for male in MidWest, falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Barbara' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2398th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 552nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 883rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1894th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5465th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 46th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2nd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 47th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 199th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 602nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 888th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Barbara' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Barbara"
Pronunciation
/ˈbɑːrbəra/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Barbara is derived from the Greek word 'barbaros,' which means 'foreign' or 'strange.' It was originally used to denote someone who did not speak Greek.
Meaning
foreign, stranger
Language Evolution
Barbara (Latin), Barbarella (Italian), Barbarita (Spanish)
Historical Usage
Barbara gained popularity in the early Christian era, particularly due to the veneration of Saint Barbara, a martyr in the early Church. Her feast day is celebrated on December 4.
Variants & Derivatives
Barb, Babs, Barbie
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Barbara is seen as a classic name, although its popularity has declined in recent decades. It is often associated with strength and resilience due to the saint's story.
Famous People
Barbara Streisand, Barbara Walters, Barbara Eden
Explore More Barbara Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Barbara"
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 "Barbara"
"Barbara" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2398th of 7545 | 186 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 552nd of 6773 | 2,112 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 883rd of 7552 | 1,342 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1894th of 10718 | 370 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 5465th of 16616 | 125 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 46th of 9107 | 93,665 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2nd of 9204 | 569,248 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 5th of 12526 | 631,943 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 47th of 19264 | 101,717 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 199th of 27321 | 23,578 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 602nd of 35406 | 7,634 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 888th of 30306 | 3,676 |
Regional Popularity of "Barbara" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
86.58% 1194th/1379 |
- |
80.30% 917th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
30.98% 479th/1546 |
26.41% 411th/1556 |
31.58% 743rd/2353 |
37.30% 577th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
44.63% 994th/2227 |
29.79% 724th/2430 |
44.13% 1259th/2853 |
43.93% 1219th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
42.84% 1492nd/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
64.02% 3325th/5194 |
63.94% 4039th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Barbara" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
3.04% 43rd/1416 |
2.25% 31st/1379 |
5.16% 122nd/2366 |
0.79% 9th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
0.13% 2nd/1546 |
0.13% 2nd/1556 |
0.13% 3rd/2353 |
0.13% 2nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
0.27% 6th/2227 |
0.21% 5th/2430 |
0.21% 6th/2853 |
0.22% 6th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
1.70% 50th/2937 |
1.23% 43rd/3483 |
1.39% 49th/3518 |
1.66% 67th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
5.62% 207th/3685 |
3.53% 158th/4475 |
3.54% 184th/5194 |
4.15% 262nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
13.33% 611th/4582 |
8.73% 451st/5164 |
8.56% 626th/7313 |
9.18% 685th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
21.84% 870th/3984 |
15.53% 697th/4487 |
14.03% 957th/6822 |
15.15% 951st/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Barbara"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Barbara" 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.