Name meaning & stats
Barbara
Barbara (Latin origin). 1,013,414 US babies since 1940, peak 1947. Notable Barbaras are 1.7× over-represented as professors.
What it means
No agreed meaning on record
Latin
A female given name from Latin.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1947
1,013,414 US babies were named Barbara between 1940 and 2025.
Where Barbaras end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Writer | 1.3× | High · 106 people |
| Politician | 1.5× | High · 100 people |
| Professor | 1.7× | High · 74 people |
| Actor | 0.6× | High · 74 people |
Among notable women who are professors, Barbaras show up 1.7× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Barbara has a surprise career: 1.9×
Spelling family
Barbara is the main spelling
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1947)