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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Barbara

200 replies

user2468101214 · 04/08/2023 20:27

Due little girl April 2024

Always had a soft spot for the name.

I understand it's following the 'old granny' comeback trend.

(I may be thinking too deeply but can see this name becoming more popular soon due to new Barbie film)

Thoughts please? TIA

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Eyeapple · 04/08/2023 21:44

💯 no from me

fantasmasgoria1 · 04/08/2023 21:45

I know a 70 year old Barbara. She gets called Babs and she doesn't like it. She doesn't mind Barb but on the whole isn't keen. I wouldn't name a baby Barbara because it is just so old fashioned.

Dombasle · 04/08/2023 21:48

Barbara Woodhouse.

%3D
yikesanotherbooboo · 04/08/2023 21:54

It's got the clean and non frilly sound of current trends but I can't help thinking of barbarian.

CaramelMac · 04/08/2023 21:57

Maybe it’s due for a comeback, i was at school in the 90s with a Barbara and it was a really weird name for a young girl then in amongst all the Gemmas, Leannes and Louises!

LetMeEnfoldYou · 04/08/2023 21:57

I think it's absolutely dreadful.

GoodVibesHere · 04/08/2023 22:00

Terrible. It's the female equivalent of Norman or Nigel.

Not due a comeback.

Original poster
user2468101214 · 04/08/2023 22:04

CaramelMac · 04/08/2023 21:57

Maybe it’s due for a comeback, i was at school in the 90s with a Barbara and it was a really weird name for a young girl then in amongst all the Gemmas, Leannes and Louises!

God, yes, Leanne, what a name of the 90s!

OP posts:
Marcipex · 04/08/2023 22:04

I love it. Absolutely tired of the Lily, Layla,Lilah,Lola,Lyra trend.

gentlemum · 04/08/2023 22:07

My nan is Barbara, often Barbie. Personally I think it's horrendous for a baby's name, I just couldn't imagine a baby being a Barbara. To me that's an 80 plus year old lady!

GetDownkeith · 04/08/2023 22:07

I recently heard of a Barbara a bit younger than me (I'm mid 40's ) and I actually thought ooh like that due a come back.
I think it will be a cool name soon.

caringcarer · 04/08/2023 22:10

Not nice if she ended up as a Barbie though.

Pipsquiggle · 04/08/2023 22:11

Look I think it's an old, dated name and basically doesn't suit any young girls or women. 'Barbara' suits older women.

But if you like it then, good for you

PurpleSky300 · 04/08/2023 22:13

I wouldn't but only because the Barbara in family has always been "Barb" and I just don't like the nickname at all.

BodegaSushi · 04/08/2023 22:17

Please no

BunnyBetChetwynnd · 04/08/2023 22:20

It makes me think of Barbara Good in The Good Life. Everyone loved her.

RitzyMcFitzy · 04/08/2023 22:28

I don't mind some of those 'plain' 1940s names like Susan, Helen, or Sally. But Barbara doesn't really appeal.

Reminds me of downtrodden Barbara Royle.

aperolspritzbasicbitch · 04/08/2023 22:33

Oh sorry, but I just don't think it's would suit a baby. I know all Barbara's were babies at one point, but I just can't imagine a beautiful newborn being named Barbara.

And I say that as someone who wanted to call my youngest Vivienne.

Victoria Coren Mitchell has a young daughter called Barbara, which seems really on brand for her. She doesn't come across well.

IAmKenough · 04/08/2023 22:34

If Violet, Olive and Ivy can have a comeback then Barbara definitely can.

It's a name I've not heard in years but I actually quite like it.

EdgeOfACoin · 04/08/2023 22:36

Not a name that has ever grown on me.

I'm not keen on the diminutives 'Bar' or 'Barb' either.

Nevertheless, I think you'd be just ahead of the curve - I've met little girls named Betsy and Peggy and I think Barbara is of the same era.

Original poster
user2468101214 · 04/08/2023 22:37

Yes I can't believe the name Olive is now on trend. I mean....I think it's awful. But then again I like Barbara so its personal taste of course!

OP posts:
Sugarplumfury · 04/08/2023 22:42

Despite it being my late, lovely DMs name, I don’t like it at all. And she loathed it. DF called her Babs or Babsy, which also were awful and didn’t suit her either. All my siblings loved DM but none of us have used her name for either our DC or DGGC.

RuthW · 04/08/2023 22:42

Nocturnaradish · 04/08/2023 21:08

I think you would be ahead of the curve. It’ll feel fresh soon enough, when baby namers are looking to move away from the current vowel heavy trend. So people may assume your daughter to be younger than her years, and her name will feel cooler for longer.

I’m not sure how I feel about the name, I certainly prefer it to many of the more currently popular choices. I’d like to meet a little girl named Barbara, and I’d admire the parents for making a fairly brave choice.

This is exactly what happened with my dd's name. Everyone thinks she's younger by her name

Go for it. Barbara is different like my dd's name was 26 years ago.

Maireas · 04/08/2023 22:46

It's a strong name. Everything comes around again. I teach teenagers called Mabel, Elsie and Violet, which always seemed like old ladies names to me! Makes a change from variants on Isabelle, plus Lily, Lola, Layla etc.
You'll be ahead of the curve, go for it!

Original poster
user2468101214 · 04/08/2023 22:46

Ruth I'm really intrigued to know your daughter's name now!

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