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?

I have a dear and fab friend called Barbara and whilst it is old fashioned it isn't awful!

Nope sorry. Should be kept in the past where it belongs.

I think it's a nice name. It's my mum's name. She is 85, however.....

It's the female equivalent of Kenneth. Brown velour sofa, brown shoes, brown blouson jacket for holidays.

It's not even an elegant word, and its associations are a bit negative. Barb, barbarian, barbary...

Belinda, Lesley, Gladys and Susan have all been mentioned upthread.

I know a Lesley in her 30s, a Belinda and a Gladys both in their 20s, and a baby Susan.

I like Barbara. But then I also like Margaret, Diane, Susan, Helen, Nicola, Patricia, Gillian... I have old-fashioned taste.

No

It's my mums name so I find some of these comments quite rude and offensive.
You can't help what name your given so all these assumptions on what kind of person someone called Barbara would be are mean and uncalled for.

My lovely, lovely gran is called Barbara. She's 85. I'd happily use it as a middle name for future DD (or perhaps even as a first name, nn Bobbie). I also love Su, Yvonne, Constance, Edith and other popular names of that era. Much nicer IMO than all the flowery, floaty, same-y names that seem to be so popular now.

@happyandsingle it's also my Mum's name and, likewise, I think there are some really offensive comments on here. Horrible assumptions about someone based on a name.

It's just a name, people. It might not be to your taste but there's no need to be so bitchy. Read back your comments and imagine someone saying those character traits applied to anyone with your name.

In my sons year at school there are a number of small Kevins, there is an Alan, Colin and a small Brian.

Their parents are of Chinese heritage though so maybe have missed the age related connotations.

Hideous

Horrible name - sorry!

I don't really care for it, myself, but I would try to hide my opinion from those who do. There's obviously nothing wrong with it, and it's the name of plenty of wonderful women. It simply doesn't appeal to me on its own merits.

In any case, I'm well aware that my own name has raised many eyebrows over the years. (My parents chose a traditionally masculine name, back when it was much less common to do so.) I'm sure little Barbara will be fine.

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

I think you're very very wrong.

Barbara is bloody awful, it will never make a come back just like Janet, Derek or Ian never will.

All the Barbara's I know are lovely and I think Barbie's quite catchy but I probably wouldn't associate a babies name with Barbara but then again I think it's awful to pull it to bits when there will be many of us with much loved family members here and also deceased with this name and I certainly don't think it's hideous

Not keen sorry!
On another note what does everyone think of Nancy!?? ( always loved it)

I like the name too, it's due a come back. Maybe your friend will start a trend. Having said that I hate the fact that some people try to find names that nobody else has, there are so many good, classic names and who cares if lots of others have the same. At least the kids won't be teased at school. My son had loads of boys called David and Nicholas at school (Dave & Nick), they even once had a snooker game of Daves v Nicks and they all like their names to this day!

I actually know a 3 year old Derek, I like it.
I love Nancy, it seems to have made a comeback.
Barbara not so much.

Half the little boys and young men in Vanuatu are called Walter/Wally! I was puzzled but then I was told it was because Father Walter Lini was instrumental in the movement for independence and served as the first prime minister on and off for 11 years from 1980.

I got quite used to all the Wallies - never met a ni-Van Barbara though!

Barbara is my mums name. I found it quite sad reading some of these comments people are so rude. I get its good fashioned and not to everyone's taste. I like it but then I am biased

Old fashioned

I hate it and I love a lot of them - Nora, Flora, Pearl, Florence, Olive, Sylvia, Caroline, etc. Barbara just looks and sounds a bit ugly and has horrible nn Babs which is the icing on the cake

We have a Derek and a Walter in our school! Age 9 and 7.

Lovely name for a 70+ lady. Not a baby girl.