Barbara Name Meaning, Popularity and Origins
Origin:
Greek
Gender Distribution:
0% Masculine / 100% Feminine
Meaning:
The name Barbara means foreign or strange.
Meaning of the Name Barbara
Barbara is derived from the Greek word 'barbaros', meaning foreign or strange. It was a common name among early Christians, including Saint Barbara who was martyred for her faith. The name was popularized in English-speaking countries in the Middle Ages. It is often associated with virtues such as strength and intelligence.
Popularity of the Name Barbara
The popularity for the name Barbara peaked in popularity in the year 1947 with 48,798 births, which ranked number 11 out of 9,305 unique names for that year. Barbara had the most female births in 1947 with 48,798, which ranked number 4 out of 6,104 female names for that year, and had the most male births in 1942 with 164, which ranked number 478 out of 4,044 male names for that year. The number of births for the name Barbara has declined over the last ten years from 296 births to 271 births, a decline of -8.45%. Among females, Barbara has declined in popularity over the last ten years from 296 births to 271 births, a decline of -8.45%.
Nationwide Popularity of Barbara
- 20 Year Trend of Barbara: -46.34%
- 10 Year Trend of Barbara: -8.45%
- 10 Year Female Trend of Barbara: -8.45%
Popularity of Barbara by State
Among females, Barbara was most popular in Southwestern states with 63 births in the region. It was most commonly used in TX, with 53 female births. See below for a full state by state breakdown of the name Barbara. States with less than five births recorded will not be shown.
| State | Male Births | Male Gender Rank | Female Births | Female Gender Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZ | < 5 | N/A | 10 | 622 |
| CA | < 5 | N/A | 36 | 867 |
| FL | < 5 | N/A | 13 | 1110 |
| GA | < 5 | N/A | 5 | 1517 |
| IN | < 5 | N/A | 6 | 923 |
| KY | < 5 | N/A | 7 | 564 |
| MI | < 5 | N/A | 5 | 1214 |
| MO | < 5 | N/A | 7 | 723 |
| NY | < 5 | N/A | 21 | 742 |
| OH | < 5 | N/A | 6 | 1240 |
| PA | < 5 | N/A | 33 | 341 |
| TN | < 5 | N/A | 6 | 1014 |
| TX | < 5 | N/A | 53 | 615 |
| UT | < 5 | N/A | 8 | 468 |
| WI | < 5 | N/A | 7 | 637 |
2024 Popularity Projections for Barbara
- Total Births of Barbara: 269 (-0.88%)
- Female Births of Barbara: 269 (-0.88%)
Given the downward trend of Barbara over the last 10 years, we expect this to continue in 2024 with roughly a -0.88% decrease in total births, for a total of 269 births in 2024. For Females, births for Barbara have been decreasing over the past 10 years, and we expect roughly 269 female births in 2024, a decrease of -0.88%.