everyone does the cats bum face when I say Barbara...

[ikeepchachachanging]

Name changed for this as will definitely out myself. Announced baby's name as Barbara to honour relative but have got lots of . One person says dd will get bullied.

AIBU to call her this? I think it sounds lovely!

Barbara may well be one of those names that will come back in fashion (like Ruby) but I think we're a long way off that.

I'm afraid it's not a name that I like but I appreciate that you can call your child whatever you like. I'd certainly not say anything to your face if you were a friend or associate (but feel that as you've asked on here then I can say what I feel...tactfully!)

I recently met a baby Elsie - to me that name is Elsie Tanner from Coronation Street and not a baby name but I didn't flinch when I was told her name!

Why did you post that Caspian? If you seriously think the name Barbara will hinder someone's career well then you're being more than a little ridiculous.

Honestly, such a visceral (and stupid) reaction to such an ordinary name is mind boggling.

Elsie is in no way better than Barbara - but fits with the trend for granny-chic. I despair.

My mum is a Barbara in her late 60s and I know a whole load my age (late 30s). Most are called Babs in everyday life.
I cannot for the life of me imagine using if for a baby or toddler - but Bee maybe??

It's not old enough for the retro resurgence thing yet so it just sounds frumpy
Sorry, but that's my opinion. On the other hand, I don't think it sounds horrible and I wouldn't have made a bums face if you had told me the name in RL!

I think the OP wanted honest opinions, otherwise she wouldn't have started a topic about it.

I know a baby Elsie. Fits in with all the -ie/y endings of the moment.

No Enas about though! (Ena Sharples reference.)

I do know a young Len(nie) but no Hildas.

I'm not saying this particular name (Barbara) will help or hinder her career... I'm pointing out that names are important because they CAN impact a person's career success, personality, popularity etc. There are lots of different theories as to why this is. The article touches on a few.

I don't like the name Barbara = honest
She will be discriminated against in the workplace if she's called Barbara = dim

Seeing the name Jermajesty Wowzers on a CV would cause the HR department to raise their eyebrows. Barbara Fraser? Not so much.

it's awfil. I'm sorry. some old fashioned names work but this definitely doesn't. I'd think you were joking if you told me.

I wonder if there's a bit of snobbishness going on, without us realizing it.

Some granny names are more working class than others.

I like it. To be honest I'm sick of hearing the names Ella, Ellie, Isabel, Freya, Sophie etc etc so Barbara is a refreshing change. Makes me think of the Beach Boys "Barbara Ann"

The trouble is it will mean different things to different generations.

After all the Ellas, Ellies, Sophies, Poppys etc, Barbara sounds Serious.
And we are not used to serious girls names, what with all the girls names ending with an eeeee sound.

In this context, Barbara is starting to grown on me
It does sound nice and soft (I just need to get rid of the old lady connotations in my head)

I called my dd Rosemary. Everyone seemed a bit but I loved it.

Barbara is an older name but it is not hideous and if it means something to you I wouldn't worry.

As do ALL names!

She can always use the nick name B (Bea) if she wants something less out there

I like it by the way!

It will grow on everyone

Sothis Rosemary is amazing.

I think I was about 7 or 8, and my brother a year younger, when we had hysterics at my DGM's name - Winifred Emily.
But as I grew up I grasped that what one generation think is nice others might not.

It's strange everyone wants there DDs names to be accepted by their own peers (the DDs peers prob won't care).

As for jobs - the chances are the CEO is a 60 year old whose Dw is Barbara - or perhaps he thinks, if its a he, that he can ogle the young poppys and amys (and if he thinks that, then the Williams and Harrys won't get a look in).

The names on the careers list are v unusual so don't see how you can generalize about names hardly anyone has eg Rhea, Vanna /??????

Though if you are in a racist part of the world common names for those of the minority race might go against you.

It's not a name I adore but it's lovely to see such support for it. With the exception of fecking Barbie dolls it's a name that has 'A Mighty Girl' written all over it.

Barbie (as a branded big boobed longlegged dolly) is unfortunately a big downside.

OP-I suspect that in two years you'll either wish you'd chosen something different or it will be a whole trend. I hope the latter. The world needs lots of little Barbara's (esp pronounced in a delicious French accent) rebranding the name from all thing "plastic and fantastic". I hope you will help your (no doubt) beautiful new baby Barbara to dismiss all the old lady and all things pink labels as she grows up, and worthy of the person she is named after.