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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

OP posts:
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delfttulipvase · 05/08/2023 07:55

I know a handful of small Junes, Jean/Jeannies and Joan/Joanies, and to me Barbara is of the same style.

To me these names sound fresh amongst the Lilys, Amelias and Eves. They are all very sweet babies and toddlers too, so that has helped create new associations in my mind.

Pipsquiggle · 05/08/2023 07:59

margegunderson · 05/08/2023 00:52

All those old Barbaras started life as babies. You just have no imagination.

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Of course I have imagination. I am literally thinking of every young girl / woman I know and how ridiculous they would suit the name Barbara

Pipsquiggle · 05/08/2023 08:05

@user2468101214
It's interesting that most of the positive comments on 'Barbara' are from those who have close associations with the name e.g. their mum or their aunty so actually it's more about the close relationship with that person rather than the actual name per se.

Are there any other contender names then we can compare and contrast.

Personally, I just think it's a really dreary, dated name

EmmaPaella · 05/08/2023 08:13

I know a Barbara in her forties. She’s trendy and it suits her. I never even think about it being the common older people’s name. Things evolve.

PossiblyNotOne · 05/08/2023 08:16

It’s one of the ugliest names there is. Awful.

xPeaceXx · 05/08/2023 08:18

Awful. I have imagination and like plenty of names that aren't in fashion, but definitely not barbara. I also think of barbaric and barbarian.

Muu · 05/08/2023 08:19

I love it. Husband didn’t like it or it’d have been on our list too.

lemonyellows · 05/08/2023 08:28

I have a friend called Barbara. 50. The only one I know of that age. It felt like
unique name when we were growing up. It was seen as an old lady name back then. But it is cool, strong. She embodies it. Much better than many if the overused bland names you see these days. Known as Barb or Barbs by friends. I like it.

AzraelsCat · 05/08/2023 08:34

I love it! It's a strong and unique name. Much nicer than some of the popular 'cutsie wutsie' names you hear at the moment.

pilates · 05/08/2023 08:36

Awful, sorry

Maireas · 05/08/2023 08:38

Pipsquiggle · 05/08/2023 07:59

Of course I have imagination. I am literally thinking of every young girl / woman I know and how ridiculous they would suit the name Barbara

Show quote history

It's not "ridiculous", just not your taste.
Calling a baby girl Bonnie isn't my taste, but I've met a few

GunkyAndGungey · 05/08/2023 08:44

I know a Barbara in her late 30s, but she goes by Bobbie. I actually assumed her name was Roberta for ages!

Pipsquiggle · 05/08/2023 08:52

Maireas · 05/08/2023 08:38

It's not "ridiculous", just not your taste.
Calling a baby girl Bonnie isn't my taste, but I've met a few

Show quote history

I am not saying the name is 'ridiculous'

I am saying that all the young girls/ women I know would suit 100s of other names better than 'Barbara'

It looks like this is a bit of a marmite name.

I do think it would be better if the OP could list the rest of her shortlist so we can compare and contrast

ThePatriarchyIsNotAboutHorses · 05/08/2023 08:55

needlesandhaystacks · 04/08/2023 21:44

Every Barbara I've ever known has been a strong, feisty woman. I think it's that kind of name!

This!

I know two, one in her 80s and one in her 50s, and both are strong, feisty, and very likeable women.

fenellasrose · 05/08/2023 08:55

No it's awful, and the ones I know wish they had a different name

Pipsquiggle · 05/08/2023 09:17

Does anyone else think that all these 'strong, feisty' Barbara's that keep being mentioned are that way because they had to learn how to deal with piss-takers from an early age?

itsmyp4rty · 05/08/2023 09:32

JellyBeanFactory · 04/08/2023 21:44

I quite like it and due for a comeback - nickname Bea.

I love Bea- but how the hell do you get that from Barbara? There's no ea sound in Barbara, they literally just begin with the same letter. If you want nn Bea then call the child Beatrice, which is lovely and timeless IMO.

To my ears Barbara is hideous. I know a lovely one but that doesn't change my mind! - and she definitely isn't strong or feisty. She is over 70 though and that is the age group that Barbara should stay with IMO.

CallieQ · 05/08/2023 09:36

Why does everyone on MN insist on nicknames... just use the proper name

mehtivation · 05/08/2023 09:37

I taught a Barbara in the UK a few years ago, she is probably about 20 now. She was born here to a Portuguese family. Totally excellent young woman (bit sulky and could be naughty, but she was 15 at the time, so no big deal) whose name suited her perfectly. I remember her fondly and like the name a lot

Original poster
user2468101214 · 05/08/2023 10:06

Pipsquiggle · 05/08/2023 08:05

@user2468101214
It's interesting that most of the positive comments on 'Barbara' are from those who have close associations with the name e.g. their mum or their aunty so actually it's more about the close relationship with that person rather than the actual name per se.

Are there any other contender names then we can compare and contrast.

Personally, I just think it's a really dreary, dated name

@Pipsquiggle

I also like Beatrix

OP posts:
Maireas · 05/08/2023 10:14

Beatrix is lovely.
Have you thought about Margaret, Patricia, Evelyn, Lois?
All nice, classic names.

Pipsquiggle · 05/08/2023 10:19

Beatrix is lovely

Pipsquiggle · 05/08/2023 10:20

Would you like 'B' as the first letter?

Brontë?

carbuncleonapigsposterior · 05/08/2023 10:22

1950s Barbara here! it took a long time for me to even slightly like my name, in fact I didn't really until I was more or less grown up and came to appreciate it's quite a popular name in Europe which made me warm to it a bit. I'm fully ok with it now, although I did think it was of its time, a bit like Brenda, Joyce or Maureen, names are of course subjective, but I really do hate those and imo Barbara doesn't conjure up their dreariness. My husband always told me he loved the name and a friend recently told me her daughter said there had been a resurgence in the name due to "Barbie". I'd just say this OP never, never use a diminutive, least of all that one!

lingmerth · 05/08/2023 11:50

@RitzyMcFitzy 😂😂😂
Jim: where are the tea bags, sugar, milk, etc etc Barb? 😂😂