Barbara
femaleStatistical recordWhat official birth registration shows about Barbara: which national registrars published it, in which years, and how its recorded position changed.
No researched meaning or origin yet — what that means.
Pronunciation
Community-contributed pronunciation recording
Recording by Panda10. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0. Source
VerifiedSource: Wikidata.Confidence: medium.
Barbara: Recorded every year since 1946, it reached #10 in 1954, and it stood at #2,440 in 2025.
among girls in England and Wales · 1996–2025
View as table
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1996 | #848 |
| 1997 | #1045 |
| 1998 | #1392 |
| 1999 | #1060 |
| 2000 | #1139 |
| 2001 | #1520 |
| 2002 | #1151 |
| 2003 | #1325 |
| 2004 | #1617 |
| 2005 | #1589 |
| 2006 | #1660 |
| 2007 | #1234 |
| 2008 | #1176 |
| 2009 | #1171 |
| 2010 | #1040 |
| 2011 | #1015 |
| 2012 | #1130 |
| 2013 | #1291 |
| 2014 | #1299 |
| 2015 | #1452 |
| 2016 | #1031 |
| 2017 | #1258 |
| 2018 | #886 |
| 2019 | #1063 |
| 2020 | #1238 |
| 2021 | #1351 |
| 2022 | #1685 |
| 2023 | #1410 |
| 2024 | #2000 |
| 2025 | #2440 |
VerifiedSource: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales.Confidence: high.
See all England and Wales names · Source: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales
What the data shows
Recorded in official data among girls in Norway in 55 of the 70 years from 1946 to 2015.
In 2023: #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland, #1410 among girls in England and Wales.
Official data from 5 national registrars across 5 regions, 1946–2025 · Office for National Statistics. Data sources
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
Popularity data
Official popularity data is available for 5 regions, from 1946 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #10 in New Zealand in 1955.
| Year | Region | Category | Rank | Births registered | Confidence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | England and Wales | female | #2440 | 11 | High | Verified |
| 2024 | England and Wales | female | #2000 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 2023 | England and Wales | female | #1410 | 22 | High | Verified |
| 2022 | England and Wales | female | #1685 | 17 | High | Verified |
| 2021 | England and Wales | female | #1351 | 23 | High | Verified |
| 2020 | England and Wales | female | #1238 | 26 | High | Verified |
| 2019 | England and Wales | female | #1063 | 32 | High | Verified |
| 2018 | England and Wales | female | #886 | 42 | High | Verified |
| 2017 | England and Wales | female | #1258 | 27 | High | Verified |
| 2016 | England and Wales | female | #1031 | 34 | High | Verified |
| 2015 | England and Wales | female | #1452 | 22 | High | Verified |
| 2014 | England and Wales | female | #1299 | 25 | High | Verified |
| 2013 | England and Wales | female | #1291 | 26 | High | Verified |
| 2012 | England and Wales | female | #1130 | 30 | High | Verified |
| 2011 | England and Wales | female | #1015 | 34 | High | Verified |
| 2010 | England and Wales | female | #1040 | 32 | High | Verified |
| 2009 | England and Wales | female | #1171 | 26 | High | Verified |
| 2008 | England and Wales | female | #1176 | 25 | High | Verified |
| 2007 | England and Wales | female | #1234 | 22 | High | Verified |
| 2006 | England and Wales | female | #1660 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 2005 | England and Wales | female | #1589 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 2004 | England and Wales | female | #1617 | 13 | High | Verified |
| 2003 | England and Wales | female | #1325 | 16 | High | Verified |
| 2002 | England and Wales | female | #1151 | 18 | High | Verified |
| 2001 | England and Wales | female | #1520 | 12 | High | Verified |
| 2000 | England and Wales | female | #1139 | 17 | High | Verified |
| 1999 | England and Wales | female | #1060 | 19 | High | Verified |
| 1998 | England and Wales | female | #1392 | 13 | High | Verified |
| 1997 | England and Wales | female | #1045 | 19 | High | Verified |
| 1996 | England and Wales | female | #848 | 26 | High | Verified |
| 1969 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #98 | 86 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1967 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #85 | 93 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1966 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #75 | 109 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1965 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #76 | 100 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1964 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #67 | 114 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1963 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #62 | 145 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1962 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #56 | 176 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1961 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #60 | 168 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1960 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #55 | 179 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1959 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #47 | 204 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1958 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #31 | 288 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1957 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #32 | 280 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1956 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #35 | 290 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1955 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #35 | 276 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1954 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #25 | 358 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1953 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #16 | 448 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1952 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #18 | 434 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1971 | New Zealand | female | #100 | 68 | High | Verified |
| 1969 | New Zealand | female | #89 | 75 | High | Verified |
| 1968 | New Zealand | female | #81 | 87 | High | Verified |
| 1967 | New Zealand | female | #63 | 103 | High | Verified |
| 1966 | New Zealand | female | #66 | 101 | High | Verified |
| 1965 | New Zealand | female | #74 | 92 | High | Verified |
| 1964 | New Zealand | female | #47 | 153 | High | Verified |
| 1963 | New Zealand | female | #44 | 171 | High | Verified |
| 1962 | New Zealand | female | #41 | 181 | High | Verified |
| 1961 | New Zealand | female | #32 | 225 | High | Verified |
| 1960 | New Zealand | female | #22 | 269 | High | Verified |
| 1959 | New Zealand | female | #21 | 306 | High | Verified |
| 1958 | New Zealand | female | #17 | 306 | High | Verified |
| 1957 | New Zealand | female | #17 | 302 | High | Verified |
| 1956 | New Zealand | female | #12 | 335 | High | Verified |
| 1955 | New Zealand | female | #10 | 375 | High | Verified |
| 1954 | New Zealand | female | #10 | 382 | High | Verified |
| 2015 | Norway | female | #543 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2012 | Norway | female | #516 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 2006 | Norway | female | #587 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 1998 | Norway | female | #533 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 1996 | Norway | female | #623 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 1995 | Norway | female | #615 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 1994 | Norway | female | #399 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 1993 | Norway | female | #367 | 11 | High | Verified |
| 1992 | Norway | female | #294 | 15 | High | Verified |
| 1991 | Norway | female | #316 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 1990 | Norway | female | #434 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 1989 | Norway | female | #258 | 20 | High | Verified |
| 1988 | Norway | female | #304 | 16 | High | Verified |
| 1987 | Norway | female | #247 | 21 | High | Verified |
| 1986 | Norway | female | #207 | 26 | High | Verified |
| 1985 | Norway | female | #204 | 24 | High | Verified |
| 1984 | Norway | female | #182 | 30 | High | Verified |
| 1983 | Norway | female | #167 | 34 | High | Verified |
| 1982 | Norway | female | #219 | 23 | High | Verified |
| 1981 | Norway | female | #198 | 27 | High | Verified |
| 1980 | Norway | female | #185 | 30 | High | Verified |
| 1979 | Norway | female | #168 | 33 | High | Verified |
| 1978 | Norway | female | #221 | 22 | High | Verified |
| 1977 | Norway | female | #238 | 19 | High | Verified |
| 1976 | Norway | female | #249 | 18 | High | Verified |
| 1975 | Norway | female | #208 | 23 | High | Verified |
| 1974 | Norway | female | #258 | 18 | High | Verified |
| 1973 | Norway | female | #181 | 29 | High | Verified |
| 1972 | Norway | female | #298 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 1971 | Norway | female | #207 | 23 | High | Verified |
| 1970 | Norway | female | #181 | 26 | High | Verified |
| 1969 | Norway | female | #191 | 23 | High | Verified |
| 1968 | Norway | female | #214 | 20 | High | Verified |
| 1967 | Norway | female | #224 | 19 | High | Verified |
| 1966 | Norway | female | #242 | 15 | High | Verified |
| 1965 | Norway | female | #280 | 13 | High | Verified |
| 1964 | Norway | female | #256 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 1963 | Norway | female | #227 | 16 | High | Verified |
| 1962 | Norway | female | #193 | 19 | High | Verified |
| 1961 | Norway | female | #174 | 23 | High | Verified |
| 1960 | Norway | female | #167 | 24 | High | Verified |
| 1959 | Norway | female | #173 | 22 | High | Verified |
| 1958 | Norway | female | #275 | 11 | High | Verified |
| 1957 | Norway | female | #218 | 15 | High | Verified |
| 1956 | Norway | female | #208 | 17 | High | Verified |
| 1955 | Norway | female | #194 | 19 | High | Verified |
| 1954 | Norway | female | #237 | 13 | High | Verified |
| 1953 | Norway | female | #231 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 1952 | Norway | female | #220 | 17 | High | Verified |
| 1951 | Norway | female | #202 | 18 | High | Verified |
| 1950 | Norway | female | #229 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 1949 | Norway | female | #252 | 12 | High | Verified |
| 1948 | Norway | female | #249 | 12 | High | Verified |
| 1947 | Norway | female | #322 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 1946 | Norway | female | #271 | 11 | High | Verified |
| 2023 | Republic of Ireland | female | #856 | 3 | High | Verified |
| 2022 | Republic of Ireland | female | #747 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2021 | Republic of Ireland | female | #883 | 3 | High | Verified |
| 2020 | Republic of Ireland | female | #495 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 2019 | Republic of Ireland | female | #621 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 2018 | Republic of Ireland | female | #629 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 2017 | Republic of Ireland | female | #734 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2016 | Republic of Ireland | female | #585 | 6 | High | Verified |
| 2015 | Republic of Ireland | female | #316 | 15 | High | Verified |
| 2014 | Republic of Ireland | female | #876 | 3 | High | Verified |
| 2013 | Republic of Ireland | female | #747 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2012 | Republic of Ireland | female | #560 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 2011 | Republic of Ireland | female | #393 | 12 | High | Verified |
| 2010 | Republic of Ireland | female | #555 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 2009 | Republic of Ireland | female | #439 | 10 | High | Verified |
| 2008 | Republic of Ireland | female | #597 | 6 | High | Verified |
| 2006 | Republic of Ireland | female | #764 | 3 | High | Verified |
| 2005 | Republic of Ireland | female | #689 | 3 | High | Verified |
| 2003 | Republic of Ireland | female | #655 | 3 | High | Verified |
| 2001 | Republic of Ireland | female | #498 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2000 | Republic of Ireland | female | #465 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 1998 | Republic of Ireland | female | #380 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 1997 | Republic of Ireland | female | #363 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 1996 | Republic of Ireland | female | #429 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 1995 | Republic of Ireland | female | #352 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 1994 | Republic of Ireland | female | #212 | 18 | High | Verified |
| 1993 | Republic of Ireland | female | #356 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 1992 | Republic of Ireland | female | #229 | 17 | High | Verified |
| 1991 | Republic of Ireland | female | #224 | 17 | High | Verified |
| 1990 | Republic of Ireland | female | #208 | 19 | High | Verified |
| 1989 | Republic of Ireland | female | #171 | 28 | High | Verified |
| 1988 | Republic of Ireland | female | #185 | 24 | High | Verified |
| 1987 | Republic of Ireland | female | #164 | 31 | High | Verified |
| 1986 | Republic of Ireland | female | #144 | 40 | High | Verified |
| 1985 | Republic of Ireland | female | #123 | 52 | High | Verified |
| 1984 | Republic of Ireland | female | #100 | 73 | High | Verified |
| 1983 | Republic of Ireland | female | #117 | 58 | High | Verified |
| 1982 | Republic of Ireland | female | #103 | 77 | High | Verified |
| 1981 | Republic of Ireland | female | #78 | 111 | High | Verified |
| 1980 | Republic of Ireland | female | #95 | 92 | High | Verified |
| 1979 | Republic of Ireland | female | #84 | 103 | High | Verified |
| 1978 | Republic of Ireland | female | #74 | 122 | High | Verified |
| 1977 | Republic of Ireland | female | #71 | 126 | High | Verified |
| 1976 | Republic of Ireland | female | #67 | 133 | High | Verified |
| 1975 | Republic of Ireland | female | #71 | 128 | High | Verified |
| 1974 | Republic of Ireland | female | #63 | 142 | High | Verified |
| 1973 | Republic of Ireland | female | #67 | 137 | High | Verified |
| 1972 | Republic of Ireland | female | #54 | 150 | High | Verified |
| 1971 | Republic of Ireland | female | #49 | 172 | High | Verified |
| 1970 | Republic of Ireland | female | #59 | 147 | High | Verified |
| 1969 | Republic of Ireland | female | #56 | 151 | High | Verified |
| 1968 | Republic of Ireland | female | #47 | 163 | High | Verified |
| 1967 | Republic of Ireland | female | #45 | 151 | High | Verified |
| 1966 | Republic of Ireland | female | #48 | 147 | High | Verified |
| 1965 | Republic of Ireland | female | #45 | 153 | High | Verified |
| 1964 | Republic of Ireland | female | #43 | 156 | High | Verified |
- England and Wales hub — collected by Office for National Statistics
- New South Wales, Australia hub — collected by NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages
- New Zealand hub — collected by NZ Department of Internal Affairs
- Norway hub — collected by Statistics Norway (SSB)
- Republic of Ireland hub — collected by CSO Ireland
See methodology and data sources for how popularity data is collected and what "confidence" means.
Where Barbara is officially recorded
5 official registrars have recorded Barbara, between 1946 and 2025. Each registrar publishes for its own population on its own methodology, so the positions below are each one country's own ranking and are not comparable with one another.
| Registrar | Recorded | Years | Its own highest position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | 1946–2015 | 55 | #167 in 1960 |
| New South Wales, Australia | 1952–1969 | 17 | #16 in 1953 |
| New Zealand | 1954–1971 | 17 | #10 in 1954 |
| Republic of Ireland | 1964–2023 | 56 | #43 in 1964 |
| England and Wales | 1996–2025 | 30 | #848 in 1996 |
Its high point came 43 years earlier in New South Wales, Australia (1953) than in England and Wales (1996).
What's not yet available
- Meaning
- Origin
- Nicknames and spelling variants
Absence from this list does not mean the name isn't genuinely meaningful or widely used — only that Namewise hasn't sourced and reviewed that content yet. Absence from a specific year or geography above does not prove zero use there either; official statistics only publish names above a minimum threshold.
Official popularity data is available for 5 regions, from 1946 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #10 in New Zealand in 1955. Source data last verified 2026-07-21.