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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Barbara is a lovely name.

317 replies

Misscromwellrocks · 02/01/2020 20:16

A friend's daughter has just called her new daughter Barbara. A few people have wrinkled their noses, but I think it's a lovely vintage Enid Blytonish name.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Shockers · 02/01/2020 20:44

Susan sounds quite dull and stuffy to me. Barbara could go either way- twin set and pearls, or bohemian.

olivertwistwantsmore · 02/01/2020 20:44

How rude some posters are!

Barbara is my middle name - it was my gran’s name. Snap, @Fleetheart!

I like it. 🤷‍♀️

TigerOnATrain · 02/01/2020 20:43

@SillyUnMurphy

barbara is a fat old woman's name!

SO rude and nasty to say that!

Took me a minute or 2 to stop laughing though! Grin

And BRIAN for a little baby boy?! LOL. Is this 1933? Grin

ChilliandLemon · 02/01/2020 20:43

I met a baby Brian recently.

Shockers · 02/01/2020 20:42

I had a school friend called Brian- we used to call him Brain instead, and thought we were hilarious. Things like that are more amusing when you’re 10.

BlackCatSleeping · 02/01/2020 20:41

A friend called her son Colin. I can’t keep a straight face at all when I hear it. Barbara is not a pretty name.

TigerOnATrain · 02/01/2020 20:41

No, just no. Not for a newborn/baby/child......

Maybe in 1963.

Not in 2020.

As for the Coren-Mitchells... Celebs are always giving their poor kids shit and naff names. 'Norms' like the rest of us should not.

SeagullOnTheWind · 02/01/2020 20:40

My friend is Barbara, Bobby for short. She's a MN user so I'm sure she's got an idea who I might be.

I love her name. I also had an exchange student from Germany called Barbara, Babo for short.

Great name.

Original poster
Misscromwellrocks · 02/01/2020 20:40

Susan is a lovely name.

OP posts:
firawla · 02/01/2020 20:38

Not a massive fan of Barbara - love Nora though and wouldn’t mind seeing a comeback of Susan!

GreaterSpottedFemale · 02/01/2020 20:38

Sorry, OP. Just so you know, you're not alone in the 'names that other people hate' camp. My then-29 yr old DH wanted to call our first born DS Brian

I kid you not

Brian!!!

Babybel90 · 02/01/2020 20:37

Out of all the names to choose from I wouldn’t put it top of the list, although I suppose she could shorten it to Barbie, which I think is very cool but I’m not sure a 15 year old would Confused

Trafalger · 02/01/2020 20:37

Every Barbara I have known has been a fucking annoying twat. So nope yabu

Strongerin2020 · 02/01/2020 20:37

My dogs called Barbara. She's ace.

CheesePleaseLoueese · 02/01/2020 20:37

I like Barbara. It's due a revival - if it hasn't already happened...

I'd infinitely prefer to hear that a new baby had been called Barbara than yet another Evie/Isabella/Olivia etc (snore)

Original poster
Misscromwellrocks · 02/01/2020 20:36

Well in fairness it's not that long ago that people were raising their eyes at names like Alfie, Elsie and George but they're super popular now.

I reckon all those 40s and 50s names like Susan, Jill and Peter will be mako g a comeback soon.

OP posts:
SillyUnMurphy · 02/01/2020 20:36

To me it’s a fat old woman’s name. Terribly unPC and I’m sorry but I can’t help but think it.

purplelila2 · 02/01/2020 20:35

I personally don't like it and also the baby when grown up would probably get called Babs which is even worse!

GreaterSpottedFemale · 02/01/2020 20:35

It's amusing on a sausage dog.
This made me giggle!

DramaAlpaca · 02/01/2020 20:33

My favourite 40s name is Daphne

Mine too, I love it. It would have invoked the DH veto, sadly.

lovelyjubilly · 02/01/2020 20:33

Makes me think of barbed wire.

Nextphonewontbesamsung · 02/01/2020 20:32

Yanbu, I love it. It was on our shortlist in 2003 but "Barbara" turned out to be a boy.

GreaterSpottedFemale · 02/01/2020 20:31

Other dc are Norma Joan and Shelia Fanny. Others might find them hideous but ... We think it makes us sound edgy and cool.

GrinGrinGrin

I do hope you live somewhere very 'naice' because if not they are most definitely not edgy or cool names

Trottersindependenttraders · 02/01/2020 20:31

It’s my 73 year old Ma’s name. Not sure she’s hugely fond of it, it’s of it’s time. I quite like it, but then I can’t not, can I?

I’m sure we can all agree to disagree without the vomit emoji though.

AudacityOfHope · 02/01/2020 20:31

There's a weird trend on here where people give their children names they'd despise if it were their own name. Bloody Barbara, for goodness' sake. It's dreadful.

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