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!

I agree that this name is probably ahead of the curve. I'm certain that the names mentioned here which are 'young granny names' - like Pam, Barbs, Jean Brenda and Judy will come back with a vengeance very soon. I remember being shocked when I heard my first 'old granny name' - I think it was Enid. Now, the old granny names like Ruby and Maude seem ok.

But I think as I have such a strong association with young-granny-names such as Barbara, I'll always find them a bit (sorry) lumpen.

Go for it if you like it though, but I'm afraid the cats bums will probably continue . I would have to take quite a bit of effort to hear a baby being called Barbara when there are such beautiful names around as alternatives.

Not my cup of tea personally, but if you like it go for it!

I once taught in a school where a lot of the students were African refugees, and taught lots of girls with out of fashion names such as Beryl, Deirdre, Greta, Kathleen, Beatrice (though that one has come back in now!), Elaine and Queenie! When I first read those names on my register I thought they sounded 'old' but after getting to know the children they just seemed normal - and really suited them. Totally changed my perception of those names!

Love Queenie.

I don't understand what's wrong with Barbara or why a child would get bullied for it. Surely it's no different to the Ethel, Enid, Nell and Maggie trend that's starting out.
I like it!

Enid is a dreadful name. Not all old lady names work as vintage granny chic. Ethel is also toe-curlingly terbil.

Barbara is infinitely better. It's grown on me since the beginning of the thread tbf. People will get used to it on a baby.

I think Barbara, Pamela and Valerie are the next Ruby, Evelyn and Amelia.

I'm really surprised it's so hated. I think it's alright myself, not brilliant but I've heard a lot worse. The only thing that would put me off would be having it shortened to Babs or Barbie. Bibi sounds cool though.

saucyjack I agree about Enid. Thats an awful name.

I actually like Babs

Sorry but I think it's dreadful and very old-fashioned. I think she would be teased a lot at school.

It's totally up to you. I knew a baby Barbara when I lived in the states. It was considered perfectly normal!

People saying she will get bullied are being ridiculous! I've been teaching for nearly 20 years and I can't think of a single child that has been bullied due to their name. Children just learn each other's names and get on with it in my experience

I know really nice people with most of the names mentioned on this thread and as a consequence I quite like the names even if I didn't before.

OP, I'm not keen on it and Babs sounds awful.

But if you like it and you think your DD will too, then use it. You'll always find people who wont like names, but its not up to them.

I once had someone sneer a DD's name which is Phoebe.

I really like Bobbie as a nickname for Barbara.

It was my Grandma's name, I adored her, it is DD2's middle name and that alone raised eyebrows.

I agree that it is probably ahead of it's time. Dd1 has one of the most popular names in the country now, but 13 years ago when she was named it was seen as very old fashioned and my in laws tried to talk us out of it on the grounds that she would be bullied.

Children just accept names, it will be normal to her peers. Ignore the cat bum mouths, you have given your daughter a name that is special to you, that is what matters.

I think it's fine. Also loving Bobbie as a nickname

My grandmother was a Babs. She was annoyed my parents didn't call me Barbara after her. I was always grateful they didn't.

However they chose a different bloody awful name that's also been mentioned on this thread as crap. That said, I've managed to make it to adulthood OK.

Call your baby what you like. The thing with naming babies is never to tell anyone what you're going to call it until it's here and already named.

I don't think there's anything 'wrong' with the name, but I don't think I'd take you seriously if you were one of my friends. It's not a name you hear on many people under 60 ime.

I would lengthen the nickname to Barbarella.

Nothing wrong with your name choice, go for it.

I also went to school with a Barbara (who went by Babs). I never thought it suited her. We're only mid-30s so she really was the only Babs her age anyone knew.

I know a Barbara, she was a barbie until she left home and then became babs. I like it, I think it's a great name for a baby :)

Bobbie is very cute!

I don't like it at all. It sounds dated and has a harsh, whiney ring to it. Babs is even worse! There's a reason some names come back in as vintage-chic and many don't. When I hear Barbara I think middle-aged overweight school secretary or librarian, with an 80s perm. To me it's a plain, ugly name.
Think about how it will effect her when she's older e.g. applying for jobs, being introduced to people. Names affect people's perception of you as well as how you perceive yourself.
I'd think seriously about whether you want to saddle her with this name for life or choose a new one while you still have the chance. Could you change Barbara into a middle-name and give her a nicer first name?
The fact people pull a face when you introduce now her suggests she will see that reaction every time she's introduced, throughout her childhood, teens and probably her adulthood. Do you really want a name the majority react negatively to? Please think carefully, your DD will have to keep this name a long time!

I think it's a name that is ripe for revival. I think it sounds nice. I couldn't get my head around Ruby and Grace when I had my first child 20 years ago but those Ruby's and Grace's were at the cutting edge.

FWIW OP I have never known a Barbara who isn't kind, nice, delightful and inspirational. My mum's best friend was Barbara and she was adorable. I worked with a lady at work called Barbara who would be about 57 now (a bit older than me) and she was the most intelligent woman, funniest, nicest woman I have possibly ever met - think Cambridge and the City. There was another Barbara I knew at work once and she was lovely too; and another in a similar genre who was a teaching assistant at the children's school.

Thinking about it my Housemistress and English teacher at school was also a Barbara - she was indomitable and looking back, probably gay, but she is the woman who inspired me and is the reason I went to university. I had forgotten about her.

Barbaras - I think they are worthy of worship.

Brilliant choice and if your daughter is half the woman of any Barbara I have ever know then she will be a wonderful person.

I've namechanged because there are so few Barbaras around.
I absolutely HATE my name. I don't have a middle name so I'm stuck with the bloody thing. It doesn't help that I have a very ample bosom so used to get called BraBra a lot and Babs ooer matron a la Babs Windsor.
I have never met another Barbara younger than me (early 40s) but most people seem to have a mum/aunt/granny in their 60s (at least) called Barbara.
I made certain to choose classic and pretty names for my DDs because I didn't want them to feel like the sore thumb I have all my life.
That's just my opinion and experience of course.

I'm a mid 30's Barbara and I have never met anyone who isn't at least 30 years older than me. I am embarrassed when I tell people my name TBH.

It willing back into fashion though