To think Barbara is a lovely name.

[Misscromwellrocks]

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?

We have a vile Barbara in the family too, Clappy. I hope for your sake yours isn't the same as ours! I'm not a huge fan of the name anyway but I can see that style of name coming back in.

Yes to my ears names like Jackie, Michelle and Liz sound very dated, but in another couple of generations those names will have the old lady chic that names like Edie, Milly and Alice have today.

Victoria and David Coren-Mitchell’s daughter is called Barbera.

If names were colours Barbara would be dark brown.

It's also quite difficult to say, like making a long drawn out noise.

Yuck. Horrible name with no nice ways to shorten it.

Nora, however, I love. Tho we mercilessly teased a girl at school whose middle name was Norah, named after her grandmother. Who wasnt called Norah but Honor.

No, you didn't use it, @tigeronatrain, but I wasn't speaking specifically to you when I said that people were being rude. 🙄 Someone used it up thread.

But your saying 'get a grip' because I said posters were rude was also pretty rude.

You say that Olivia and Lily have come back into fashion because they are 'nice names' but that's just your opinion; names are very subjective.

I like Lydia, I think it's timeless.

@dayswithaY

It's also quite difficult to say, like making a long drawn out noise

Wtaf? 🙄 do you have a speech impediment? Or do you just find polysyllabic names tricky? 🙄

Awful name, ugly sounding. It’s not that it’s not in fashion, it’s just not appealing at all.

I remember a time when Lily was considered a drab middle aged name. My mother who grew up knowing lots of Oliver can't understand the renewed popularity of the ns8.

I think it’s awful. I just don’t like the sounds in the name.

Though I love the Eastern European equivalent - Varvara. I think that’s beautiful. It’s pronounced Var-varra, so three syllables, rather than Bar-bruh.

It feels dated but still nice

It is old-fashioned and sweet as long as it isn't shortened to "Barbie".

It’s hideous

There seems to be about 100 year gap in girl name fashions. If you look at what was popular 100 years ago, I can see that many of those names are coming back again (apart from perhaps Gladys and Doris) - maybe because they don’t have any living associations. Barbara isn’t old enough yet.

To me, it isn’t just that Barbara is dated - I actively think it sounds ugly.

There are plenty of other dated names which I think sound beautiful - e.g. Mabel, Irene, Vera.

@olivertwistwantsmore

that's your opinion!

FINALLY you get it.

These are peoples OPINIONS. People are giving their opinions!!!

You know, what the OP asked for.

You seem to be getting angry and irked and sniffy that people are giving opinions you don't like.

Maybe AIBU is not the place for you

.
Have you thought about joining netmums?

Barbara is lovely! I have only ever known lovely ones though.

I think Jane is due a revival, also Jilly and Julia.

I think they become mainstream popular after about a hundred years. But they usually acquire a type of Boho chic about twenty years before that.

So I reckon names like Barbara, Jill, Susan and Anne are probably due a revival amongst the arty crowd.

I don’t like it or any of the nicknames.

Olivertwistwantsmore I don't have a speech impediment but my son does. Lots of people seem to find it irritating but other people are more patient with him.

My point is that the name Barbara doesn't exactly trip off the tongue. Is that ok for you?

I don't like it.
Makes me think of barbeques and Barbie dolls.

Absolutely awful name!!! I just think of a sheep baaaaing 🐑

It wouldn't be my choice but I think it's a name that will make a comeback.