Barbara

Meaning of Barbara

It means 'foreign woman' or 'stranger'. In ancient times, it referred to people who didn't speak Greek.

Barbara has Greek roots — browse every Greek baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Barbara

After ranking as high as #506 in 2000, Barbara has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Barbara

• Barbara Walters
  Pioneering journalist, television host
• Barbara Bush
  Former First Lady of the U.S.
• Barbara Eden
  Actress, 'I Dream of Jeannie'
• Barbara Jordan
  Civil rights leader, politician
• Barbara McClintock
  Nobel Prize-winning geneticist

More Greek names

Questions about the name Barbara

What does the name Barbara mean?

Barbara means it means 'foreign woman' or 'stranger'. in ancient times, it referred to people who didn't speak greek, and it comes from Greek origins.

Is Barbara a boy's or a girl's name?

Barbara is most commonly used as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Barbara?

Barbara did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Barbara most popular?

Barbara peaked at #506 in 2000.