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Barbara

Girl name · 689 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Barbara: 689 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 75 births in 1974.

From the Greek *barbaros* meaning "foreign" or "strange", Barbara was originally a term for anyone who didn't speak Greek, but it took on a softer identity as a feminine given name through early Christian veneration of Saint Barbara, a third-century martyr. Famous bearers include the iconic singer and actress Barbra Streisand (who dropped the second 'a') and former First Lady Barbara Bush. The name also lent itself to the Californian city of Santa Barbara, founded by Spanish missionaries who named it after the saint. A classic name that enjoyed immense popularity in the mid-20th century, Barbara remains a warm, sturdy choice with a slightly old-fashioned charm—and its Greek root lives on in the word "barbarian", though the name itself feels anything but.