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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Barbara is a lovely name.

316 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:
CountFosco · 02/01/2020 20:17

I have 2 relatives called Barbara, both lovely. It's definitely due a revival.

Marcipex · 02/01/2020 20:18

I really like it. Refreshing change.

Thenamedame · 02/01/2020 20:18

I met someone once with 2 children named Barbara and Walter and in a country filled with Olivias, Olivers, Jack's and Amelias I thought it was a breathe of fresh air!
Wee baby Barbara is adorable in my opinion!

PinkiOcelot · 02/01/2020 20:19

It’s hideous.

spingly · 02/01/2020 20:19

Hmm I think it could grow on me, my current revival favourite is Nora.

ChilliandLemon · 02/01/2020 20:19

Yes, it’s awful. Some vintage names are nice, Barbara isn’t one of them.

ClappyFlappy · 02/01/2020 20:19

YANBU to like it of course. But then I have a relative called Barbara who is vile so I don’t like it.

JKScot4 · 02/01/2020 20:19

Awful name, I think people are desperately trying to be cool with ‘oh this name is lovely’ some suggested on MN were hideous and still are.

amusedbush · 02/01/2020 20:19

Nope, not a fan 🤷🏻‍♀️

Jog22 · 02/01/2020 20:20

I can just Nana saying it in The Royle Family.

Northernsoullover · 02/01/2020 20:20

I like it too.

ouch321 · 02/01/2020 20:21

Not one you hear much these days.

One of the characters on Stranger Things (early 80s) has that name though. They call her Barb for short.

Not that that helps you I'm sure...

Fleetheart · 02/01/2020 20:21

It’s my middle name, people laugh at it, but I love the name because it was my Granny’s name Smile

ironicname · 02/01/2020 20:21

It's amusing on a sausage dog.

MadameJosephine · 02/01/2020 20:21

It’s not my cup of tea but it’s not a terrible name, there certainly won’t be loads of them in her class

David Mitchell and Victoria Coren Mitchell have a little girl named Barbara and for some reason that always makes me smile 😊

DickDewy · 02/01/2020 20:21

I think it is absolutely awful.

MrOnionsBumperRoller · 02/01/2020 20:22

Bit late to the trend OP, there are plenty of baby Barbras about and a revival is in full swing. Very rude indeed to cat's bottom mouth someone else's name choices for their offspring.

fedup21 · 02/01/2020 20:22

Victoria Coren and David Mitchell called their daughter Barbara.

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.

ChilliandLemon · 02/01/2020 20:22

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

DecomposingRat · 02/01/2020 20:22

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

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!”

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.

DramaAlpaca · 02/01/2020 20:24

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

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!)