Barbara
Meaning of Barbara
Barbara is a classic female name with a rich history and international appeal. The name Barbara is pronounced as BAR-buh-ruh in both American English (/ˈbɑr.bə.rɑ/) and British English (/ˈbɐr.bə.rɐ/). It also has variations such as Barb and Barbie. In Italian, the name is pronounced as bar-BAH-rah (/bar.ˈba.ra/) and in Spanish, it is also pronounced as bar-BAH-rah (/bar.ˈba.ra/).
In terms of popularity, Barbara has been consistently used for newborn girls in the United States over the years. In recent years, its rank has ranged from 976 to 680, indicating that it remains a well-known and beloved choice for parents. While it may not be as trendy as some other names, Barbara's enduring charm makes it a timeless option for those seeking a classic name with character.
Pronunciation
Spanish,Italian
- Pronunced as bar-BAH-rah (/bar.ˈba.ra/)
British English
- Pronunced as BAR-buh-ruh (/ˈbɐr.bə.rɐ/)
American English
- Pronunced as BAR-buh-ruh (/ˈbɑr.bə.rɑ/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Barbara
| Barbara Bush was the first lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993, known for her work in family literacy and as the wife of President George H. W. Bush and mother of President George W. Bush. |
| Barbara McClintock was an American scientist and cytogeneticist known for her pioneering work in maize cytogenetics, genetic recombination, and the role of telomeres and centromeres, ultimately earning her the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1983. |
| Barbara Stanwyck was a versatile American actress, known for her strong screen presence and starring in numerous films and television shows over her 60-year career. |
| Barbara Ann Mikulski is a prominent American politician and social worker who made history as the longest-serving U.S. Senator in Maryland and the third-longest-serving female United States Senator. |
| Barbara Charline Jordan was a pioneering American lawyer, educator, and politician, known for being the first African American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives from the South. |
| Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland, also known as the Queen of Romance, was a prolific English writer famous for her bestselling contemporary and historical romance novels set in the Victorian and Edwardian periods. |
| Barbara Kingsolver is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, essayist, and poet known for works like The Poisonwood Bible and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, with a focus on social justice and environmental themes. |
| Barbara Eden is an American actress famous for her role as Jeannie in the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie and other notable roles in Flaming Star, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and Harper Valley PTA. |
| Barbara Strozzi was a pioneering Italian composer and singer of the Baroque Period, known for publishing eight volumes of her own music and having more secular music in print than any other composer of her time, despite lacking support from the Church and consistent patronage from the nobility. |
| Barbara Barrie is an American actress and author known for her work in film, television, and theater. |
| Barbara Bodichon - Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon was a prominent English feminist, educationalist, and artist who co-founded Girton College, Cambridge and published influential works on women's rights in the mid-19th century. |
| Barbara Taylor Bradford is a best-selling British-American novelist known for her debut novel, A Woman of Substance, which sold over 30 million copies worldwide, and for writing 39 best-selling novels in England and the United States. |
| Barbara Bel Geddes was an American actress, artist, and children's author known for her role as Miss Ellie Ewing in Dallas and for her performances in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, I Remember Mama, and Vertigo. |
| Barbara Frum was a renowned American-born Canadian radio and television journalist, celebrated for her interviews on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. |
| Barbara Goolsbee Bollier is an American physician and politician who served as a member of the Kansas Senate representing the 7th district and was the Democratic nominee in the 2020 United States Senate election in Kansas. |
