Barbara vs Robyn
Barbara and Robyncompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Barbara was ranked #856 and Robyn #21 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1969, Barbara was ranked #98 and Robyn #48 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Barbara was ranked #100 and Robyn #53 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Robyn #78 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Robyn over time
Barbara and Robyn appear together in 4 published lists, across 100 years of shared records. Robyn held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Barbara in 0.
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 3 of those lists, and Robyn 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 1956, Robyn moved ahead of Barbara in New Zealand · Girls — #10 and #12 the year before became #12 and #8.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Robyn were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 37 years, from 1982 to 2023, ending at #856 and #21.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #16 in 1953, Robyn #6 in 1953.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls37 shared years, 1982–2023
Barbara held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Robyn in 30.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #100 in 1984, Robyn #21 in 2023.
The order changed in 1990: Robyn moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #171 and #218; by 1990 that had become #208 and #184.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Barbara #856, Robyn #21.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robyn in 29.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Robyn #64 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Robyn #78.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1952–1969
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robyn in 17.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #16 in 1953, Robyn #6 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Barbara #98, Robyn #48.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1971
Barbara held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Robyn in 15.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #10 in 1954, Robyn #8 in 1956.
The order changed in 1956: Robyn moved ahead. In 1955 they stood at #10 and #12; by 1956 that had become #12 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Barbara #100, Robyn #53.
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 | Robyn |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A feminine variant of Robin, itself a diminutive of Robert. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic, feminine diminutive form |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɑb.ɪn/ | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #19 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Robyn has a recorded origin (Germanic, feminine diminutive form); Barbara does not have one recorded yet.
- Barbara has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Robyn.
- A meaning is recorded for Robyn; Barbara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, 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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Robyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #7 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1974
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1974).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls