Astrid vs Barbara
Astrid and Barbaracompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Astrid was ranked #43 and Barbara #543 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Astrid was ranked #263 and Barbara #2000 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Astrid was ranked #458 and Barbara #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Astrid and Barbara over time
Astrid and Barbara appear together in 3 published lists, across 100 years of shared records. Astrid held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Barbara in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Barbara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Astrid in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Longest-running competitions
Astrid and Barbara were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 55 years, from 1946 to 2015, ending at #43 and #543.
List by list
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1946–2015
Astrid held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Barbara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Astrid #12 in 1949, Barbara #167 in 1960.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Astrid #43, Barbara #543.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Astrid held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Barbara in 3.
Highest recorded here: Astrid #235 in 2023, Barbara #848 in 1996.
The order changed in 2001: Astrid moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #1313 and #1139; by 2001 that had become #1170 and #1520.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Astrid #263, Barbara #2000.
Republic of Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1977–2022
Astrid held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Barbara in 11.
Highest recorded here: Astrid #375 in 2020, Barbara #71 in 1977.
The order changed in 2020: Astrid moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #871 and #621; by 2020 that had become #375 and #495.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Astrid #458, Barbara #747.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Astrid | Barbara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'beautiful god' or 'divinely beautiful'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Old Norse | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæstɹɪd/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #9 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Astrid has a recorded origin (Old Norse); Barbara does not have one recorded yet.
- Astrid has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Barbara.
- A meaning is recorded for Astrid; Barbara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Astrid
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #12 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in Norway, in 2025 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #9 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Barbara
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #271 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1971
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1971).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls