Namewise

Barbara vs Mina

Barbara and Minacompared 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, Barbara was ranked #543 and Mina #44 among girls in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Mina #493 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2023, Barbara was ranked #856 and Mina #727 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Barbara and Mina over time

Barbara and Mina appear together in 3 published lists, across 82 years of shared records. Barbara held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Mina in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 3 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 3 of those lists, and Mina 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.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Barbara and Mina changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 2008 and 2023, ending at #856 and #727.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 43 shared years in Norway · Girls, Mina rose about as far as Barbara fell — from #322 and #392 in 1947 to #543 and #44 in 2015.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Barbara and Mina were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 43 years, from 1947 to 2015, ending at #543 and #44.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #316 in 2015, Mina #585 in 2016.

List by list

  • Norway · Girls43 shared years, 19472015

    Barbara held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Mina in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Barbara #167 in 1983, Mina #25 in 2006.

    The order changed in 1987: Mina moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #207 and #271; by 1987 that had become #247 and #213.

    Most recent shared year, 2015: Barbara #543, Mina #44.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Barbara held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Mina in 25.

    Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Mina #478 in 2018.

    The order changed in 2003: Mina moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #1151 and #1192; by 2003 that had become #1325 and #818.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Mina #493.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 20082023

    Barbara held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Mina in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Barbara #316 in 2015, Mina #585 in 2016.

    The order changed in 2021: Mina moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #621 and #716; by 2021 that had become #883 and #883.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Barbara #856, Mina #727.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Barbara, Mina
FieldBarbaraMina
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
PronunciationNot yet recorded
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024)Norway · Girls #65 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Barbara has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Mina.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.

How each name got here

Barbara

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1971

    Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1971).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls

Mina

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #350 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Norway, in 2007 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #65 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls