Namewise
Shortlist

Barbara

femaleStatistical record

What 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

A Hungarian pronunciation, as its file is labelled. 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.

Falling

among girls in England and Wales · 1996–2025

England and Wales · Girls rank from 1996 to 2025, ranging from #848 to #2440.200020052010201520202025#848#2440
How to read this chart#1#500no figure publishedUp means a stronger rankBottom is this name's lowest,not zero
  • A rank is a position in one registrar's list for one year.
  • Ranks from different countries are separate scales, so compare shapes, not numbers.
  • A rise in rank can be a small change in births, especially far down a list.
View as table
England and Wales · Girls rank by year
YearRank
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

FallingEngland and Wales · Girls

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

Year-by-year storyFirst recorded, most recent, each country and each decade

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 recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Full data tableEvery published rank and count

Popularity data

Official popularity data is available for 5 regions, from 1946 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #10 in New Zealand in 1955.

Barbara's recorded popularity observations by year, region and administrative category, including rank, registered births, source confidence and when each region's data was last reviewed.
YearRegionCategoryRankBirths registeredConfidenceStatus
2025England and Walesfemale#244011HighVerified
2024England and Walesfemale#200014HighVerified
2023England and Walesfemale#141022HighVerified
2022England and Walesfemale#168517HighVerified
2021England and Walesfemale#135123HighVerified
2020England and Walesfemale#123826HighVerified
2019England and Walesfemale#106332HighVerified
2018England and Walesfemale#88642HighVerified
2017England and Walesfemale#125827HighVerified
2016England and Walesfemale#103134HighVerified
2015England and Walesfemale#145222HighVerified
2014England and Walesfemale#129925HighVerified
2013England and Walesfemale#129126HighVerified
2012England and Walesfemale#113030HighVerified
2011England and Walesfemale#101534HighVerified
2010England and Walesfemale#104032HighVerified
2009England and Walesfemale#117126HighVerified
2008England and Walesfemale#117625HighVerified
2007England and Walesfemale#123422HighVerified
2006England and Walesfemale#166014HighVerified
2005England and Walesfemale#158914HighVerified
2004England and Walesfemale#161713HighVerified
2003England and Walesfemale#132516HighVerified
2002England and Walesfemale#115118HighVerified
2001England and Walesfemale#152012HighVerified
2000England and Walesfemale#113917HighVerified
1999England and Walesfemale#106019HighVerified
1998England and Walesfemale#139213HighVerified
1997England and Walesfemale#104519HighVerified
1996England and Walesfemale#84826HighVerified
1969New South Wales, Australiafemale#9886InsufficientNot yet available
1967New South Wales, Australiafemale#8593InsufficientNot yet available
1966New South Wales, Australiafemale#75109InsufficientNot yet available
1965New South Wales, Australiafemale#76100InsufficientNot yet available
1964New South Wales, Australiafemale#67114InsufficientNot yet available
1963New South Wales, Australiafemale#62145InsufficientNot yet available
1962New South Wales, Australiafemale#56176InsufficientNot yet available
1961New South Wales, Australiafemale#60168InsufficientNot yet available
1960New South Wales, Australiafemale#55179InsufficientNot yet available
1959New South Wales, Australiafemale#47204InsufficientNot yet available
1958New South Wales, Australiafemale#31288InsufficientNot yet available
1957New South Wales, Australiafemale#32280InsufficientNot yet available
1956New South Wales, Australiafemale#35290InsufficientNot yet available
1955New South Wales, Australiafemale#35276InsufficientNot yet available
1954New South Wales, Australiafemale#25358InsufficientNot yet available
1953New South Wales, Australiafemale#16448InsufficientNot yet available
1952New South Wales, Australiafemale#18434InsufficientNot yet available
1971New Zealandfemale#10068HighVerified
1969New Zealandfemale#8975HighVerified
1968New Zealandfemale#8187HighVerified
1967New Zealandfemale#63103HighVerified
1966New Zealandfemale#66101HighVerified
1965New Zealandfemale#7492HighVerified
1964New Zealandfemale#47153HighVerified
1963New Zealandfemale#44171HighVerified
1962New Zealandfemale#41181HighVerified
1961New Zealandfemale#32225HighVerified
1960New Zealandfemale#22269HighVerified
1959New Zealandfemale#21306HighVerified
1958New Zealandfemale#17306HighVerified
1957New Zealandfemale#17302HighVerified
1956New Zealandfemale#12335HighVerified
1955New Zealandfemale#10375HighVerified
1954New Zealandfemale#10382HighVerified
2015Norwayfemale#5434HighVerified
2012Norwayfemale#5165HighVerified
2006Norwayfemale#5874HighVerified
1998Norwayfemale#5335HighVerified
1996Norwayfemale#6234HighVerified
1995Norwayfemale#6154HighVerified
1994Norwayfemale#3999HighVerified
1993Norwayfemale#36711HighVerified
1992Norwayfemale#29415HighVerified
1991Norwayfemale#31614HighVerified
1990Norwayfemale#4349HighVerified
1989Norwayfemale#25820HighVerified
1988Norwayfemale#30416HighVerified
1987Norwayfemale#24721HighVerified
1986Norwayfemale#20726HighVerified
1985Norwayfemale#20424HighVerified
1984Norwayfemale#18230HighVerified
1983Norwayfemale#16734HighVerified
1982Norwayfemale#21923HighVerified
1981Norwayfemale#19827HighVerified
1980Norwayfemale#18530HighVerified
1979Norwayfemale#16833HighVerified
1978Norwayfemale#22122HighVerified
1977Norwayfemale#23819HighVerified
1976Norwayfemale#24918HighVerified
1975Norwayfemale#20823HighVerified
1974Norwayfemale#25818HighVerified
1973Norwayfemale#18129HighVerified
1972Norwayfemale#29814HighVerified
1971Norwayfemale#20723HighVerified
1970Norwayfemale#18126HighVerified
1969Norwayfemale#19123HighVerified
1968Norwayfemale#21420HighVerified
1967Norwayfemale#22419HighVerified
1966Norwayfemale#24215HighVerified
1965Norwayfemale#28013HighVerified
1964Norwayfemale#25614HighVerified
1963Norwayfemale#22716HighVerified
1962Norwayfemale#19319HighVerified
1961Norwayfemale#17423HighVerified
1960Norwayfemale#16724HighVerified
1959Norwayfemale#17322HighVerified
1958Norwayfemale#27511HighVerified
1957Norwayfemale#21815HighVerified
1956Norwayfemale#20817HighVerified
1955Norwayfemale#19419HighVerified
1954Norwayfemale#23713HighVerified
1953Norwayfemale#23114HighVerified
1952Norwayfemale#22017HighVerified
1951Norwayfemale#20218HighVerified
1950Norwayfemale#22914HighVerified
1949Norwayfemale#25212HighVerified
1948Norwayfemale#24912HighVerified
1947Norwayfemale#3227HighVerified
1946Norwayfemale#27111HighVerified
2023Republic of Irelandfemale#8563HighVerified
2022Republic of Irelandfemale#7474HighVerified
2021Republic of Irelandfemale#8833HighVerified
2020Republic of Irelandfemale#4957HighVerified
2019Republic of Irelandfemale#6215HighVerified
2018Republic of Irelandfemale#6295HighVerified
2017Republic of Irelandfemale#7344HighVerified
2016Republic of Irelandfemale#5856HighVerified
2015Republic of Irelandfemale#31615HighVerified
2014Republic of Irelandfemale#8763HighVerified
2013Republic of Irelandfemale#7474HighVerified
2012Republic of Irelandfemale#5607HighVerified
2011Republic of Irelandfemale#39312HighVerified
2010Republic of Irelandfemale#5557HighVerified
2009Republic of Irelandfemale#43910HighVerified
2008Republic of Irelandfemale#5976HighVerified
2006Republic of Irelandfemale#7643HighVerified
2005Republic of Irelandfemale#6893HighVerified
2003Republic of Irelandfemale#6553HighVerified
2001Republic of Irelandfemale#4984HighVerified
2000Republic of Irelandfemale#4654HighVerified
1998Republic of Irelandfemale#3805HighVerified
1997Republic of Irelandfemale#3637HighVerified
1996Republic of Irelandfemale#4295HighVerified
1995Republic of Irelandfemale#3527HighVerified
1994Republic of Irelandfemale#21218HighVerified
1993Republic of Irelandfemale#3567HighVerified
1992Republic of Irelandfemale#22917HighVerified
1991Republic of Irelandfemale#22417HighVerified
1990Republic of Irelandfemale#20819HighVerified
1989Republic of Irelandfemale#17128HighVerified
1988Republic of Irelandfemale#18524HighVerified
1987Republic of Irelandfemale#16431HighVerified
1986Republic of Irelandfemale#14440HighVerified
1985Republic of Irelandfemale#12352HighVerified
1984Republic of Irelandfemale#10073HighVerified
1983Republic of Irelandfemale#11758HighVerified
1982Republic of Irelandfemale#10377HighVerified
1981Republic of Irelandfemale#78111HighVerified
1980Republic of Irelandfemale#9592HighVerified
1979Republic of Irelandfemale#84103HighVerified
1978Republic of Irelandfemale#74122HighVerified
1977Republic of Irelandfemale#71126HighVerified
1976Republic of Irelandfemale#67133HighVerified
1975Republic of Irelandfemale#71128HighVerified
1974Republic of Irelandfemale#63142HighVerified
1973Republic of Irelandfemale#67137HighVerified
1972Republic of Irelandfemale#54150HighVerified
1971Republic of Irelandfemale#49172HighVerified
1970Republic of Irelandfemale#59147HighVerified
1969Republic of Irelandfemale#56151HighVerified
1968Republic of Irelandfemale#47163HighVerified
1967Republic of Irelandfemale#45151HighVerified
1966Republic of Irelandfemale#48147HighVerified
1965Republic of Irelandfemale#45153HighVerified
1964Republic of Irelandfemale#43156HighVerified

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.

NorwayNorway: recorded in 1946Norway: recorded in 1947Norway: recorded in 1948Norway: recorded in 1949Norway: recorded in 1950Norway: recorded in 1951Norway: recorded in 1952Norway: recorded in 1953Norway: recorded in 1954Norway: recorded in 1955Norway: recorded in 1956Norway: recorded in 1957Norway: recorded in 1958Norway: recorded in 1959Norway: recorded in 1960Norway: recorded in 1961Norway: recorded in 1962Norway: recorded in 1963Norway: recorded in 1964Norway: recorded in 1965Norway: recorded in 1966Norway: recorded in 1967Norway: recorded in 1968Norway: recorded in 1969Norway: recorded in 1970Norway: recorded in 1971Norway: recorded in 1972Norway: recorded in 1973Norway: recorded in 1974Norway: recorded in 1975Norway: recorded in 1976Norway: recorded in 1977Norway: recorded in 1978Norway: recorded in 1979Norway: recorded in 1980Norway: recorded in 1981Norway: recorded in 1982Norway: recorded in 1983Norway: recorded in 1984Norway: recorded in 1985Norway: recorded in 1986Norway: recorded in 1987Norway: recorded in 1988Norway: recorded in 1989Norway: recorded in 1990Norway: recorded in 1991Norway: recorded in 1992Norway: recorded in 1993Norway: recorded in 1994Norway: recorded in 1995Norway: recorded in 1996Norway: recorded in 1998Norway: recorded in 2006Norway: recorded in 2012Norway: recorded in 2015Norway: highest position in 1960New South Wales, Austra…New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1952New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1953New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1954New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1955New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1956New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1957New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1958New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1959New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1960New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1961New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1962New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1963New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1964New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1965New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1966New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1967New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1969New South Wales, Australia: highest position in 1953New ZealandNew Zealand: recorded in 1954New Zealand: recorded in 1955New Zealand: recorded in 1956New Zealand: recorded in 1957New Zealand: recorded in 1958New Zealand: recorded in 1959New Zealand: recorded in 1960New Zealand: recorded in 1961New Zealand: recorded in 1962New Zealand: recorded in 1963New Zealand: recorded in 1964New Zealand: recorded in 1965New Zealand: recorded in 1966New Zealand: recorded in 1967New Zealand: recorded in 1968New Zealand: recorded in 1969New Zealand: recorded in 1971New Zealand: highest position in 1954Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland: recorded in 1964Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1965Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1966Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1967Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1968Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1969Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1970Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1971Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1972Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1973Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1974Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1975Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1976Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1977Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1978Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1979Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1980Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1981Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1982Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1983Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1984Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1985Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1986Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1987Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1988Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1989Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1990Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1991Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1992Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1993Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1994Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1995Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1996Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1997Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1998Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2000Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2001Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2003Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2005Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2006Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2008Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2009Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2010Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2011Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2012Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2013Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2014Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2015Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2016Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2017Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2018Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2019Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2020Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2021Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2022Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2023Republic of Ireland: highest position in 1964England and WalesEngland and Wales: recorded in 1996England and Wales: recorded in 1997England and Wales: recorded in 1998England and Wales: recorded in 1999England and Wales: recorded in 2000England and Wales: recorded in 2001England and Wales: recorded in 2002England and Wales: recorded in 2003England and Wales: recorded in 2004England and Wales: recorded in 2005England and Wales: recorded in 2006England and Wales: recorded in 2007England and Wales: recorded in 2008England and Wales: recorded in 2009England and Wales: recorded in 2010England and Wales: recorded in 2011England and Wales: recorded in 2012England and Wales: recorded in 2013England and Wales: recorded in 2014England and Wales: recorded in 2015England and Wales: recorded in 2016England and Wales: recorded in 2017England and Wales: recorded in 2018England and Wales: recorded in 2019England and Wales: recorded in 2020England and Wales: recorded in 2021England and Wales: recorded in 2022England and Wales: recorded in 2023England and Wales: recorded in 2024England and Wales: recorded in 2025England and Wales: highest position in 199619462025
Each mark is a year the registrar recorded the name; the diamond is that registrar's highest position. Gaps can mean a year was not published, not that the name went unused.
RegistrarRecordedYearsIts own highest position
Norway1946–201555#167 in 1960
New South Wales, Australia1952–196917#16 in 1953
New Zealand1954–197117#10 in 1954
Republic of Ireland1964–202356#43 in 1964
England and Wales1996–202530#848 in 1996

Its high point came 43 years earlier in New South Wales, Australia (1953) than in England and Wales (1996).

Names measured beside itNeighbours, comparisons, related names and shared trajectories

What is known about Barbara

How to read this
How often it is registered
Official record
5 official registrars, 1946–2025.
Meaning
Not established
Not researched yet.
Origin
Not established
Not researched yet.
Pronunciation
Reported
A recorded pronunciation is available.

A claim marked not established does not mean the name lacks a meaning or is not widely used — only that Namewise has not 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.