Could Barbara work as an honour name?

I know a 12 year old Barbara, goes by Bea. Love it.

Barbara would be OK as a middle name, but I wouldn't saddle a child with it as a first name. It's just too dated.

Not 1960, more1930s and1940s.

I worked with 1 and she looked a bit like Kim Woodburn

Looking at the Scottish records, in 2024 and 2025 Barbara was only used as a first name once, but was used as a middle name lots of times, presumably named after a granny.

I think that once a name reappears as a middle name, it's only a matter of time before it becomes used as a first name.

I'd say it is a 60s name.
So you'd only just be ahead of the trend.
Soon we are likely to have loads of Susan, Pamela, Angela, Deborah, Christine, Paula, Carol, type names back.
No stranger than all the really old fashioned names people have been calling their babies for the last 10 - 15 years.

I was born in the 70's and have a close friend called Barbara
She changed her name unofficially at 16 as she hates it
At her wedding only me and 1 other old school friends were not surprised when the vicar siad her legal name
I probaby wouldn't use it just to honour someone

Victoria Coren Mitchell’s dd is called Barbara.

My DD’s second name is Irene. She has never been bullied for it and is really proud to be named for a terrific ancestor who was an active part of the early feminist movement. She has a lovely photo on herself on the original lap that she keeps on her desk.

Not all dated names get or deserve a comeback. Barbara is one of them. It’s such an ugly name, I’d put it in a box with Phyllis, Maureen, Doreen, Norma and Beryl type names. They are all horrid.

Refreshing amongst all the Lexi Maes Freyas, Olivias and all the other samey prissy names doing the rounds at the moment.

I think Barbara is definitely due around again. I have a friend with granddaughters called Marine and Agnès. I think they’re cool names.

I don't think it's a very nice name, the only one I know is in her 70's.

Some names won't ever come back - Mildred was popular in the 1920's. I wouldn't imagine for minute that just because something was popular 100 years ago that it must come round again, and I definitely wouldn't assume that there will be a ton of Barbara's by the time she's 10.

Barbara is awful. I would hate to be called that.

Use it as a middle name, also give her, her own name and identity.

According to ONS, Barbara peaked in popularity in the late 1930s. As we know names seems to run in roughly 100 year cycles of popularity it’s probably due a comeback in a few years. you’re ahead of the curve but it probably won’t seem that unusual by the time she’s 10.

Call her a Ava/Amelia/Freya Rose and be done with it.

Barbara's fine @SDtome . Refreshing change from all the vowelly frilly names.

It's a very dated name and not a nice one at that. I love old names, there are lots of very pretty names that you could chose from, why pick one you clearly aren't sure of? If you want to "honour" someone give it as a middle name, pick a name that you actually like as the first name. You posting here is a clean indication that you aren't sure, if you like a name other people's opinion shouldn't sway your decision.

I reckon Barbara, Pamela, Belinda, Susan, Deborah and Janet will be back before we know it. Pamela and Belinda in particular I think are lovely names.

I was born in the 70s and have never ever met someone my age or younger called Barbara. It’s a grandmas name

Yes, for our generation, everyone's nan was called Barbara or Gwen in my experience. But you know this is exactly what our parents said about all the - now teenage - Mabels, Elsies and Ivys out there when they started to come along.

I was also born in the 70s and have a friend called Barbara, for what it is worth.

Do you know how the Barbara that you're considering naming your child after feels about her own name? Does she know that you want to do this? I ask because I can't imagine that she likes Barbara very much if she's choosing to exclusively be called Barb. Many people do not like their own name so would not want to be honoured in this way.

She might get called Babs.

I think you should only call your child after someone they are going to feel some sort of connection to. They are the ones that are going to have to live with the name.

We live in a diverse area and so there are all manner of names in the school, some quite weird and wonderful. Don’t believe anyone would bat an eyelid at Barbara.

14 year old DD has a mate called Barbara. Inner city state school and they all think the name is cool.

I'm surprised so many people think it's old fashioned. I think it's so old fashioned that it's either fashionable or soon will be, If you see what I mean.

I personally think it's strange to name a baby after someone else. My daughter's friends middle name is Barbara and they think it's funny. But a lot of people are slightly sheepish about their middle names.

Yes, but what about Lily Allen then? She must be in her 40s by now maybe, or nearly?

Often the child of celebrity/fashionable parents might have a name ahead of the curve. Maybe it's the same with your colleague Lily. I think you're being a bit rigid about 'suitable' names for different age groups.

I think if it is important to you, do it. It is not an off the wall choice and she won't be bullied.