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Barbara

What does Barbara mean?

Barbara Pronunciation of Barbara as a girls' name is pronounced BAR-bra. It is of Latin origin, and the meaning of Barbara is "foreign woman". The adjective was originally applied to anyone who did not speak Greek; it has the same root as "barbarian". In Roman Catholic custom, Saint Barbara is invoked as a protector against fire and lightning; she is patron saint of architects, stonemasons, and fortifications. Barbra is a spelling variant made familiar by singer/actress/film director Barbra Streisand. Many people may associate the name with the popular doll Barbie, which with Babs, are informal pet forms. Actress Barbara Stanwyck; writer Barbara Tuchman; First Lady Barbara Bush.

STARTS/ENDS WITH Ba-, -ara

ASSOCIATED WITH greek, roman, saint, protector (defender), fire, lady (noble), bush (tree)

Variations

VARIANTS Bab, Baba, Babara, Babb, Babbett, Babbette, Babbie, Babe, Babett, Babette, Babita, Babs, Baibin, Barabara, Barb, Barbar, Barbarella, Barbarit, Barbarita, Barbeeleen, Barbel, Barbera, Barbette, Barbey, Barbi, Barbie, Barbora, Barbra, Barbro, Barby, Barra, Basha, Basia, Baubie, Bauby, Beba, Bebe, Berbera, Berberia, Berberya, Berbya, Bibi, Bobbe, Bobbee, Bobbi, Bobbie, Bobby, Bonni, Bonnie, Bonny, Borbala, Varvara, Varina

SEE ALSO Barinda, Bunny, Wava

CREATIVE FORMS
(female)

(male)


MIDDLE NAME PAIRINGS
Barbara Royal (B.R.), ..

How popular is Barbara?

Barbara is a very popular first name for women (#4 out of 4276, Top 1%) and also a very popular surname for both adults and children (#10548 out of 150436, Top 7%). (2000 U.S. CENSUS)

Barbara reached its top rank of #3 in the U.S. during the years 1940-1949, and is currently at #930. (TOP 2000 NAMES, 2018)

Top 2000 baby names ranking of Barbara name in U.S.

Top 100 baby names ranking of Barbara outside U.S.

Which version is better?

Prominent varying forms of Barbara (#930 LAST YEAR) are Babe, Babette, Barb, Barbie, Barbra, Bebe, Bobbi, Bobbie, Bobby, Bonni, Bonnie (#691), Bonny, Bunny, Varina and Wava. These relations of Barbara were popular 78 years ago (ADOPTION OF 3.7%) and have become significantly less conventional since.



Top 2000 baby names ranking of Barbara, Babe, Babette, Barb, Barbie in U.S.

Top 2000 baby names ranking of Barbra, Bebe, Bobbi, Bobbie, Bobby in U.S.

Top 2000 baby names ranking of Bonni, Bonnie, Bonny, Bunny, Varina, Wava in U.S.

Top 100 baby names ranking of Bonnie outside U.S.

Similar Names

Recommended sound-alike names are Bahira, Bakura, Balbina, Bambina, Bara, Barah, Barri, Barry, Barta, Bartha, Barucha, Bernarda, Berura, Borsala, Brana, Breana, Briana, Briar, Bryana, Bryar, Cantara, Charmara, Damara, Darra, Fabra (see Fabia), Farra, Hadara, Jahzara, Kaara, Kamara, Kanara, Karra, Lacara, Larra, Makara, Marmara, Marra, Nahara, Sabra, Sagara, Sahara, Samara, Sammara, Sarra, Tamara, Tammara, Tarra, Tashara and Zahara. These names tend to be less commonly used than Barbara.

See names
in meaning and etymology.


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