Barbara

Meaning & Origin

Meaning: Strange; Foreign

Background: The name Barbara originates from the Latin word 'barbarus,' which means 'strange' or 'foreign.' This term is derived from the Greek 'barbaros,' conveying a similar meaning, originally used to describe non-Greek speaking peoples.

At a glance

Quick stats based on the history of this name.

Lifetime rank
#6
Total births
1,440,537
Most popular decade
1940s (1,279,275 births)
10-year trend
↓ Falling (-11 ranks)
Years in Top 100
65
First recorded year
1880

Gender usage

0.3% male 99.7% female

Stats by gender

Male

First year
1913
First year births
7
First year rank
#2,273
Peak year
1942
Peak year births
164
Peak rank
#478
Most recent year
1993
Recent year births
5
Recent rank
#8,700

Female

First year
1880
First year births
127
First year rank
#128
Peak year
1947
Peak year births
48,800
Peak rank
#4
Most recent year
2024
Recent year births
313
Recent rank
#859

Births over time

Number of babies given this name each year.

Rank over time

Popularity rank by year (1 = most popular).

Related links