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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:
SandyY2K · 02/01/2020 20:30

Its old fashioned. I wouldn't call a baby Barbara in this day and age.

MaterEstIratus · 02/01/2020 20:30

YANBU to think that. You are however incorrect. 😜

GreaterSpottedFemale · 02/01/2020 20:29

I'm just trying to imagine a baby called Barbara.... and I can't without smirking Smile

AndromedaPerseus · 02/01/2020 20:28

My favourite 40s name is Daphne

DickDewy · 02/01/2020 20:27

Yes, Barbara belongs in a bin along with Phyllis, Maureen, Pauline and Doreen.

TrainspottingWelsh · 02/01/2020 20:27

Yeah, I would have liked another dc just so we could name it Barbara. Other dc are Norma Joan and Shelia Fanny.

Others might find them hideous but our main criteria for names was unusual, rather than anything we loved or the dc might like to be called. We think it makes us sound edgy and cool.

Original poster
Misscromwellrocks · 02/01/2020 20:27

@CherryPlum Deidre (deedree) is just a horrible anglicised version of the lovely Irish name Deirdre (dear-Dreh). It drives Irish people mad when they hear that awful coronation street mangling of the name.

OP posts:
Chocmallows · 02/01/2020 20:27

Even the nn are awful.

PsychosonicCindy · 02/01/2020 20:27

I like the name Barbara. It's never done Barbie any harm.

LaurieMarlow · 02/01/2020 20:27

I can’t bear Nora, but it’s becoming more and more popular.

BanSprouts · 02/01/2020 20:27

I'm not a fan

NationMcKinley · 02/01/2020 20:26

(Love Nora although prefer Norah)

LaurieMarlow · 02/01/2020 20:26

Barbara is ok.

Barb is fucking awful though.

Tombliwho · 02/01/2020 20:26

Its hideous and all of the potential nicknames are hideous too. Barbie, Babs, Barb. Grim.

NationMcKinley · 02/01/2020 20:25

Ah little baby Babs.

No. It’s terrible. Sorry.

2020BetterBeBetter · 02/01/2020 20:25

I don’t like it but there are many names I dislike as I am sure names I do like are disliked by others. Barbara certainly isn’t an offensive name and I cab think of many I dislike considerably more.

TimeForDinnerDinnerDinner · 02/01/2020 20:25

Horrid 🤮

MelroseHigginbottom · 02/01/2020 20:25

Ahh I'm thinking of calling mine (due in summer) a lovely old name like that. I met a lovely funny old lady called Nora recently and since then I want Nora (although the baby is more likely to be a boy - Henry!)

DramaAlpaca · 02/01/2020 20:24

It's hideous. It's even worse than the recently revived Nora and that's saying something.

Fishflame · 02/01/2020 20:23

It just makes me think of David Mitchell and his wife, who called their baby Barbara, and I thought they were being "ironic".

To me, Barbara is the woman who organised the church jumble sale in 1978.

FenellaVelour · 02/01/2020 20:23

Victoria Coren and David Mitchell’s daughter is called Barbara.

I don’t like it.

And I always think, “they’re coming to get you, Barbara!”

DecomposingRat · 02/01/2020 20:22

Barbara, Babs, Barb, Ba-Ba-Babaranne, not a nice name.

ChilliandLemon · 02/01/2020 20:22

Barb as a shortening is even worse. It’s so ugly.

CherryPlum · 02/01/2020 20:22

It's awful! I've always thought that Barbara is a name that won't ever be popular again, along with Deidre, Pamela, Lorraine.

fedup21 · 02/01/2020 20:22

Victoria Coren and David Mitchell called their daughter Barbara.

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