Barbara
How to say it: BAR-bruh · /ˈbɑrbərə/
From Greek barbaros meaning 'foreign' or 'strange'; used by early Christians as a martyr's name.
Barbara was the 857th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 264 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1940s, its births are down about 19% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #865 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #857 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 264 |
| Share of births | 1 in 12,558 |
| Peak decade | 1940s |
| Change over 10 years | −19% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #865 |
| In France, 2025 | #806 among girls’ names, 35 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
High in the 1940s, Barbara has grown rarer ever since. Now far below that peak, it will likely continue slipping.
What goes with it
Round and resonant with soft and crisp sounds, Barbara carries a saintly heritage. Patricia shares its style.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Barbara is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #806 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Barbara
- Barbara McBurger (1902–1992)American scientist and cytogeneticist
- Barbara Stanwyck (1907–1990)American actress
- Barbara Bush (1925–2018)First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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