Barbara vs Linda
Barbara and Lindacompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1969, Barbara was ranked #98 and Linda #21 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Barbara was ranked #100 and Linda #52 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Barbara was ranked #543 and Linda #394 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Barbara was ranked #747 and Linda #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Barbara was ranked #2440 and Linda #1892 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Linda over time
Barbara and Linda appear together in 5 published lists, across 173 years of shared records. Linda held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Barbara in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 5 of those lists, and Linda in none. 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1955, Linda moved ahead of Barbara in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #25 and #27 the year before became #35 and #20.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Linda changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2440 and #1892.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Linda were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2440 and #1892.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #848 in 1996, Linda #638 in 1997.
List by list
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1946–2015
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Linda in 55.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #167 in 1960, Linda #1 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Barbara #543, Linda #394.
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1964–2022
Barbara held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Linda in 47.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Linda #13 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Barbara #747, Linda #747.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Barbara held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Linda in 19.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Linda #638 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barbara #2440, Linda #1892.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1952–1969
Barbara held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Linda in 14.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #16 in 1953, Linda #12 in 1963.
The order changed in 1955: Linda moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #25 and #27; by 1955 that had become #35 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Barbara #98, Linda #21.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1971
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Linda in 17.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #10 in 1954, Linda #7 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Barbara #100, Linda #52.
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 | Barbara | Linda |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Barbara has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Linda.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Linda
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1975 (recorded 1945–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1892 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls