Could Barbara work as an honour name?

[SDtome]

Thoughts on Barbara? Could it work? There's an amazing woman in my life that I really admire named Barbara (goes by Barb), and I'd love to honour her. DH is supportive of the idea. The only potential problem that I can see is that the Barb in my life was born in the 1970s, so the name would have been much more common during that time. I do wonder if bullying should be a concern because it's not a very fashionable name at the moment (and probably won't be for at least a decade or longer). I worry that our daughter might not be able to pull it off and will hate her name.

I reckon Barbara, Pamela, Belinda, Susan, Deborah and Janet will be back before we know it. Pamela and Belinda in particular I think are lovely names.

I was born in the 70s and have never ever met someone my age or younger called Barbara. It’s a grandmas name

Yes, for our generation, everyone's nan was called Barbara or Gwen in my experience. But you know this is exactly what our parents said about all the - now teenage - Mabels, Elsies and Ivys out there when they started to come along.

I was also born in the 70s and have a friend called Barbara, for what it is worth.

It's a very dated name and not a nice one at that. I love old names, there are lots of very pretty names that you could chose from, why pick one you clearly aren't sure of? If you want to "honour" someone give it as a middle name, pick a name that you actually like as the first name. You posting here is a clean indication that you aren't sure, if you like a name other people's opinion shouldn't sway your decision.

Call her a Ava/Amelia/Freya Rose and be done with it.

Barbara's fine @SDtome . Refreshing change from all the vowelly frilly names.

According to ONS, Barbara peaked in popularity in the late 1930s. As we know names seems to run in roughly 100 year cycles of popularity it’s probably due a comeback in a few years. you’re ahead of the curve but it probably won’t seem that unusual by the time she’s 10.

Barbara is awful. I would hate to be called that.

Use it as a middle name, also give her, her own name and identity.

I don't think it's a very nice name, the only one I know is in her 70's.

Some names won't ever come back - Mildred was popular in the 1920's. I wouldn't imagine for minute that just because something was popular 100 years ago that it must come round again, and I definitely wouldn't assume that there will be a ton of Barbara's by the time she's 10.

I think Barbara is definitely due around again. I have a friend with granddaughters called Marine and Agnès. I think they’re cool names.

Refreshing amongst all the Lexi Maes Freyas, Olivias and all the other samey prissy names doing the rounds at the moment.

Not all dated names get or deserve a comeback. Barbara is one of them. It’s such an ugly name, I’d put it in a box with Phyllis, Maureen, Doreen, Norma and Beryl type names. They are all horrid.

My DD’s second name is Irene. She has never been bullied for it and is really proud to be named for a terrific ancestor who was an active part of the early feminist movement. She has a lovely photo on herself on the original lap that she keeps on her desk.

Victoria Coren Mitchell’s dd is called Barbara.

I was born in the 70's and have a close friend called Barbara
She changed her name unofficially at 16 as she hates it
At her wedding only me and 1 other old school friends were not surprised when the vicar siad her legal name
I probaby wouldn't use it just to honour someone

I'd say it is a 60s name.
So you'd only just be ahead of the trend.
Soon we are likely to have loads of Susan, Pamela, Angela, Deborah, Christine, Paula, Carol, type names back.
No stranger than all the really old fashioned names people have been calling their babies for the last 10 - 15 years.

Looking at the Scottish records, in 2024 and 2025 Barbara was only used as a first name once, but was used as a middle name lots of times, presumably named after a granny.

I think that once a name reappears as a middle name, it's only a matter of time before it becomes used as a first name.

Not 1960, more1930s and1940s.

I worked with 1 and she looked a bit like Kim Woodburn

Barbara would be OK as a middle name, but I wouldn't saddle a child with it as a first name. It's just too dated.

I know a 12 year old Barbara, goes by Bea. Love it.

It’s awful don’t do it.

I think it is coming back, and it isn't a made-up name and I don't really see what there is to tease in it.

Not a favourite of mine, I have to be honest, but then I don't like many of the Mabel, Daphne, Nora, Nancy old lady "ugly" names that have come back round.

If you like it, it has meaning and DH agrees, why not? I do think Babs is cute (baps not so much ...)

Yes, it is the turn of those names next. I think Susan is the nicest of them.

She can go by Barbie which is cute

I live in a German speaking country and there are loads of Barbaras around, including young people.
I really don't like the name actually, but that's my personal preference.
Most of the Barbaras I know go by "Babsie" or "Babs".

Think about what it might get shortened too and whether you like those names or not and maybe consider it as a middle name if you're not sure about it.

Yes, popular in the 60s - I was just reeling off names of girls in my year at school, and similar aged colleagues I've worked with over the years that have been a similar age to me.

I think it’s a bit dated, it is a nice name though.
I’d have it as a middle name

Barbara is more fashionable now than it was for babies in the 70s. Go for it if you don’t mind Barbie.