Barbara
Barbara is a Christian girl name of Greek, via Latin origin, meaning “Foreign woman, stranger”.
| Meaning | Foreign woman, stranger |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Greek, via Latin |
| Pronunciation | BAR-bruh |
| Tradition | Christian |
| Used in | Worldwide |
Meaning and origin of Barbara
Barbara comes from the Greek barbaros, 'foreign', a word imitating the 'bar-bar' sound that unfamiliar languages made to Greek ears. Its popularity rests on Saint Barbara, an early Christian martyr whose legend says she was imprisoned in a tower by her father. She became patron of miners, artillerymen and anyone facing sudden death. The name was hugely popular in the English-speaking world from the 1920s to the 1950s.
Is Barbara a Christian name?
Barbara is a Christian saint's name, honoured in Catholic and Orthodox churches with a feast day on 4 December. Her legend is ancient, though historians consider its details uncertain.
How popular is Barbara?
Very familiar across Europe and the Americas, though now more common among grandmothers than babies.
Gifts with the name Barbara
- Barbara name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Barbara baby gifts (Amazon)
- Christian baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Barbara
Names similar to Barbara
More Christian girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Barbara mean?
Barbara means 'Foreign woman, stranger'. It is of Greek, via Latin origin.
Is Barbara a Christian name?
Barbara is a Christian saint's name, honoured in Catholic and Orthodox churches with a feast day on 4 December. Her legend is ancient, though historians consider its details uncertain.
How do you pronounce Barbara?
Barbara is pronounced BAR-bruh.
Is Barbara a boy or girl name?
Barbara is usually a girl name.