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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:
iolaus · 02/01/2020 21:21

I don't particularly like it - but there are lots of names I don't particularly like. However it's not my baby so doesn't matter (and my eldest's name is from Enid Blyton so it's not that I don't like older names - my husband doesn't realise thats where I originally liked the name from)

missyB1 · 02/01/2020 21:21

I love it, and would also love to see the name Belinda revived.

TigerOnATrain · 02/01/2020 21:20

How rude some posters are!

Barbara is my middle name - it was my gran’s name!

Oh FGS @olivertwistwantsmore no-one is being rude! The OP asked for opinions and people are giving them .. Get a grip !

I don't think Barbara is a good name for a newborn/young child, in 2020, and I am entitled to voice that opinion, without being called RUDE ! Hmm Especially when I have been asked for it.

A few people laughed at the name BRIAN earlier on. That's my DH's cousin's name, (he was born in 1968) and we BOTH agree that it's a naff name. The sort you'd give a dog, not a baby! Not these days anyway!!!

@Misscromwellrocks

Tigeronatrain... But how do you think that names like Lilly, Molly and Oliver came back into fashion?

Because they're nice names.

Barbara and Brian are not. And neither is JANET... (Well, not for children...maybe people over 60!)

As I said, don't ask for opinions and then cry off when they're not what you want to hear.

FrancisCrawford · 02/01/2020 21:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HouseworkAvoider10 · 02/01/2020 21:18

I like Barbara but only so I can shorten it to Babs - which i love.

also like the name Margo (and Margaret).

DracarysThis · 02/01/2020 21:16

Phylis

Yes, because being called Syphilis in high school won't be damaging to a child at all.

Gonetoget · 02/01/2020 21:15

It has a nice sound to it, but it does makes me think of frosted pink lipstick, coach holidays and tea cosies.

Ahrightsoted · 02/01/2020 21:14

My elderly bulldog is called Barbara so I'm biased. Love this nameGrin

Pennina · 02/01/2020 21:10

I like it! Also Phylis

MonnaLIza · 02/01/2020 21:10

love it.

Barbaraanne22 · 02/01/2020 21:09
Smile
LemonPrism · 02/01/2020 21:09

As long as they're not called babs

dogcrazy · 02/01/2020 21:09

I don’t like it. Can’t imagine anyone under 60 being called Barbara.

StillNumb · 02/01/2020 21:08

Back in the 60's at my catholic school. They had this thing called 'The Good Shepherd' collection. From what I can remember you had a sticker book which you had to fill with stamps which had pictures of African babies. Once your book was filled you could name your baby. I named mine Daphne. I am sure there are no fifty odd year old African women named Daphne because of me. Dreadful concept though...

Skyejuly · 02/01/2020 21:08

Really do not like it.

Di11y · 02/01/2020 21:08

I know a 1yo Bernard. I assumed he'd be called Bernie but nope is usually Bernard.

Yetanotherwinter · 02/01/2020 21:07

It’s a lovely name for a 70 year old. I also hate Patricia, the name of Christine Lampards baby.

EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 02/01/2020 21:06

I like it. I wouldn't say it's a lovely name but it's a strong and uncommon one at the moment.

For me it conjures up a feisty toddler who grows up to be the kind of teenager the girls want to be and the boys want to be with and then a fiercely successful and independent woman.

Crunched · 02/01/2020 21:06

My, very beautiful and cool, bf is called Barbra, her Father is a fan of Barbra Streisand.
It suits her.
I think it was probably more common in 1953 not 1963.

LuckyAmy1986 · 02/01/2020 21:05

It’s not great.. but then better than yet another Amelia/Evie/Olivia

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 02/01/2020 21:04

(Outing maybe)My son (he’s in his 20s but not planning on kids yet) announced he wants his kids to have our names. Jane and blooming John. Yes we gave our kids “unusual” but not yooonique names.

CalleighDoodle · 02/01/2020 21:04

I was very close to buying a female dog i was going to call Barbara. We got the make in the end.

DarkBrownEyes · 02/01/2020 21:04

Not keen on Barbara.

I love Jacqueline though Blush

meatandcrustypies · 02/01/2020 21:02

It was the name of two of my dearly loved and missed relatives, so I really like it! I wondered if David and Victoria Mitchell would give it a revival.

katmandoo · 02/01/2020 21:02

I think it is about 20 years off a revival, I have noticed it tended to be a 90-100 year turn around , all the names of the old ladies and gents I looked after in the 90's and we laughed at as ugly are the names young people are choosing for their children now, I choose my sons names deliberately from the "wrong" era for my theory in the hope that when they hit their 20's their names will be starting to get popular and I have to admit I am already hearing in the last year a couple of babies with one sons names and they both turn up in the MN naming threads and are no longer being chucked out as awful.

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