Barbara Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Barbara is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Barbara?
Barbara is spelled B-A-R-B-A-R-A. The name has 7 letters.
Barbara at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Barbara means “foreign” or “stranger.”
- Origin
- The name Barbara is derived from the Greek word “barbaros,” which described a foreigner or someone who did not speak Greek.
- Pronunciation
- BAR-buh-rah · 3 syllables
Barbara Popularity in 2025
Rank#968
Recorded Births264
- Girls usage fell 116 places to #968 and recorded 53 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Barbara Mean?
Barbara means “foreign” or “stranger.”
Origin: The name Barbara is derived from the Greek word “barbaros,” which described a foreigner or someone who did not speak Greek.
How Do You Pronounce Barbara?
PronunciationBAR-buh-rah
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Barbara?
- History
- Barbara has been used as a given name since antiquity and is connected to Christian tradition through the veneration of Saint Barbara.
- Cultural notes
- Barbara is associated with Saint Barbara, who is venerated as a protector against lightning and sudden death in some Christian traditions.
Barbara Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 264 | #968 |
| 2024 | Girls | 317 | #852 |
| 2023 | Girls | 308 | #871 |
| 2022 | Girls | 276 | #966 |
| 2021 | Girls | 299 | #904 |
| 2020 | Girls | 301 | #886 |
| 2019 | Girls | 287 | #922 |
| 2018 | Girls | 291 | #920 |
| 2017 | Girls | 303 | #890 |
| 2016 | Girls | 329 | #856 |
| 2015 | Girls | 329 | #849 |
| 2014 | Girls | 326 | #848 |
| 2013 | Girls | 321 | #831 |
| 2012 | Girls | 296 | #893 |
| 2011 | Girls | 369 | #745 |
| 2010 | Girls | 412 | #692 |
| 2009 | Girls | 465 | #639 |
| 2008 | Girls | 397 | #747 |
| 2007 | Girls | 482 | #618 |
| 2006 | Girls | 554 | #538 |
| 2005 | Girls | 412 | #674 |
| 2004 | Girls | 438 | #623 |
| 2003 | Girls | 437 | #613 |
| 2002 | Girls | 509 | #541 |
When Was Barbara Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1947 · Girls
48,800 recorded births
National rank #4
1948 · Girls
46,826 recorded births
National rank #3
1946 · Girls
45,126 recorded births
National rank #4
1942 · Girls
44,739 recorded births
National rank #2
Where Barbara Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| PA | #414 | 26 |
| KY | #443 | 9 |
| IA | #492 | 6 |
| IN | #511 | 13 |
| MO | #516 | 11 |
| WI | #612 | 7 |
| TX | #713 | 42 |
| MI | #787 | 9 |