Barbara
#968 for girls in 2025, 264 births · Last seen for boys in 1993 at #8,700
Given to girls 99.7% of the time
- Peak · girls
- 1942 · 44,739 births
- Debut · girls
- 127 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 64 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 1,436,695since 1880
Barbara over time
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #968 | 264 | — | |
| 2024 | #852 | 317 | — | |
| 2023 | #871 | 308 | — | |
| 2022 | #966 | 276 | — | |
| 2021 | #904 | 299 | — | |
| 2020 | #886 | 301 | — | |
| 2019 | #922 | 287 | — | |
| 2018 | #920 | 291 | — | |
| 2017 | #890 | 303 | — | |
| 2016 | #856 | 329 | — | |
| 2015 | #849 | 329 | — | |
| 2014 | #848 | 326 | — | |
| 2013 | #831 | 321 | — | |
| 2012 | #893 | 296 | — | |
| 2011 | #745 | 369 | — | |
| 2010 | #692 | 412 | — | |
| 2009 | #639 | 465 | — | |
| 2008 | #747 | 397 | — | |
| 2007 | #618 | 482 | — | |
| 2006 | #538 | 554 | — | |
| 2005 | #674 | 412 | — | |
| 2004 | #623 | 438 | — | |
| 2003 | #613 | 437 | — | |
| 2002 | #541 | 509 | — | |
| 2001 | #533 | 502 | — | |
| 2000 | #505 | 534 | — | |
| 1999 | #468 | 563 | — | |
| 1998 | #447 | 579 | — | |
| 1997 | #378 | 700 | — | |
| 1996 | #388 | 682 | — | |
| 1995 | #347 | 758 | — | |
| 1994 | #312 | 871 | — | |
| 1993 | #291 | 951 | #8,700 | 5 |
| 1992 | #247 | 1,128 | #6,670 | 7 |
| 1991 | #229 | 1,239 | #5,521 | 9 |
| 1990 | #207 | 1,388 | #8,117 | 5 |
| 1989 | #186 | 1,493 | #4,527 | 11 |
| 1988 | #185 | 1,505 | #4,786 | 9 |
| 1987 | #172 | 1,632 | #4,573 | 9 |
| 1986 | #180 | 1,488 | #4,853 | 8 |
| 1985 | #169 | 1,677 | #3,805 | 11 |
| 1984 | #152 | 1,867 | #2,613 | 18 |
| 1983 | #143 | 2,020 | #4,141 | 9 |
| 1982 | #130 | 2,348 | #3,692 | 11 |
| 1981 | #119 | 2,531 | #3,030 | 14 |
| 1980 | #120 | 2,578 | #3,256 | 13 |
| 1979 | #123 | 2,493 | #2,897 | 15 |
| 1978 | #113 | 2,579 | #4,157 | 8 |
| 1977 | #101 | 2,845 | #2,665 | 16 |
| 1976 | #98 | 2,968 | #3,724 | 9 |
| 1975 | #83 | 3,454 | #2,361 | 18 |
| 1974 | #77 | 3,906 | #2,946 | 12 |
| 1973 | #63 | 4,433 | #3,013 | 11 |
| 1972 | #58 | 5,080 | #1,928 | 22 |
| 1971 | #47 | 6,453 | #1,705 | 27 |
| 1970 | #41 | 8,026 | #1,794 | 24 |
| 1969 | #39 | 8,811 | #1,440 | 31 |
| 1968 | #36 | 9,740 | #1,314 | 34 |
| 1967 | #33 | 11,203 | #1,132 | 43 |
| 1966 | #27 | 13,123 | #1,100 | 45 |
| 1965 | #25 | 14,023 | #1,163 | 42 |
| 1964 | #19 | 16,481 | #1,082 | 49 |
| 1963 | #17 | 18,295 | #936 | 64 |
| 1962 | #14 | 20,641 | #871 | 76 |
| 1961 | #12 | 23,002 | #1,042 | 56 |
| 1960 | #12 | 24,454 | #951 | 63 |
| 1959 | #11 | 25,359 | #926 | 68 |
| 1958 | #9 | 27,874 | #994 | 59 |
| 1957 | #9 | 29,692 | #919 | 68 |
| 1956 | #9 | 32,302 | #865 | 75 |
| 1955 | #7 | 33,617 | #818 | 80 |
| 1954 | #7 | 36,368 | #985 | 57 |
| 1953 | #6 | 38,473 | #848 | 72 |
| 1952 | #6 | 39,864 | #814 | 74 |
| 1951 | #5 | 40,617 | #838 | 70 |
| 1950 | #4 | 41,556 | #814 | 70 |
| 1949 | #4 | 42,600 | #834 | 67 |
| 1948 | #3 | 46,826 | #783 | 76 |
| 1947 | #4 | 48,800 | #727 | 89 |
| 1946 | #4 | 45,126 | #615 | 109 |
| 1945 | #3 | 38,273 | #649 | 87 |
| 1944 | #2 | 39,196 | #549 | 121 |
| 1943 | #2 | 43,432 | #506 | 150 |
| 1942 | #2 | 44,739 | #478 | 164 |
| 1941 | #2 | 39,543 | #473 | 155 |
| 1940 | #2 | 36,736 | #487 | 140 |
| 1939 | #2 | 37,257 | #468 | 150 |
| 1938 | #2 | 39,277 | #454 | 162 |
| 1937 | #2 | 34,917 | #468 | 144 |
| 1936 | #3 | 31,682 | #547 | 110 |
| 1935 | #3 | 30,698 | #517 | 124 |
| 1934 | #3 | 29,239 | #543 | 118 |
| 1933 | #3 | 26,949 | #519 | 119 |
| 1932 | #3 | 26,318 | #583 | 103 |
| 1931 | #4 | 21,804 | #650 | 84 |
| 1930 | #6 | 18,279 | #738 | 74 |
| 1929 | #7 | 16,038 | #815 | 63 |
| 1928 | #8 | 14,872 | #1,041 | 44 |
| 1927 | #10 | 13,161 | #1,112 | 41 |
| 1926 | #16 | 11,079 | #1,219 | 35 |
| 1925 | #22 | 9,155 | #1,451 | 26 |
| 1924 | #28 | 8,305 | #2,473 | 12 |
| 1923 | #33 | 7,209 | #2,772 | 10 |
| 1922 | #40 | 6,272 | #2,801 | 10 |
| 1921 | #40 | 6,013 | #2,632 | 11 |
| 1920 | #47 | 5,106 | #2,967 | 9 |
| 1919 | #60 | 4,084 | #3,391 | 7 |
| 1918 | #60 | 4,224 | #3,368 | 7 |
| 1917 | #67 | 3,535 | #3,545 | 6 |
| 1916 | #74 | 3,112 | #3,897 | 5 |
| 1915 | #83 | 2,704 | — | |
| 1914 | #82 | 2,061 | — | |
| 1913 | #94 | 1,451 | #2,273 | 7 |
| 1912 | #102 | 1,184 | — | |
| 1911 | #119 | 737 | — | |
| 1910 | #136 | 612 | — | |
| 1909 | #126 | 567 | — | |
| 1908 | #135 | 514 | — | |
| 1907 | #129 | 515 | — | |
| 1906 | #142 | 413 | — | |
| 1905 | #154 | 366 | — | |
| 1904 | #151 | 357 | — | |
| 1903 | #151 | 346 | — | |
| 1902 | #163 | 306 | — | |
| 1901 | #164 | 277 | — | |
| 1900 | #162 | 338 | — | |
| 1899 | #165 | 273 | — | |
| 1898 | #164 | 304 | — | |
| 1897 | #153 | 299 | — | |
| 1896 | #145 | 324 | — | |
| 1895 | #150 | 298 | — | |
| 1894 | #151 | 290 | — | |
| 1893 | #155 | 255 | — | |
| 1892 | #147 | 278 | — | |
| 1891 | #152 | 221 | — | |
| 1890 | #147 | 241 | — | |
| 1889 | #140 | 246 | — | |
| 1888 | #135 | 253 | — | |
| 1887 | #132 | 204 | — | |
| 1886 | #133 | 207 | — | |
| 1885 | #129 | 195 | — | |
| 1884 | #128 | 193 | — | |
| 1883 | #142 | 135 | — | |
| 1882 | #138 | 130 | — | |
| 1881 | #123 | 130 | — | |
| 1880 | #128 | 127 | — | |
In the first year the SSA published name data, Barbara was already there! It came in at #128, and was given to 127 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1880–1883, when fewer than 140 girls a year got the name.
Where Barbara is popular in 1980
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- West Virginia#69 · 1 in 324
- Mississippi#74 · 1 in 322
- Florida#76 · 1 in 356
- Delaware#83 · 1 in 306
- New Jersey#92 · 1 in 409
Best ever in a state: #1 in New Hampshire, 1929.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | #69 | 37 | 1 in 324 |
| Mississippi | #74 | 51 | 1 in 322 |
| Florida | #76 | 145 | 1 in 356 |
| Delaware | #83 | 10 | 1 in 306 |
| New Jersey | #92 | 91 | 1 in 409 |
| Wyoming | #93 | 9 | 1 in 357 |
| Ohio | #95 | 153 | 1 in 479 |
| Alaska | #96 | 8 | 1 in 355 |
| Michigan | #101 | 113 | 1 in 533 |
| Pennsylvania | #101 | 138 | 1 in 500 |
| New York | #105 | 200 | 1 in 499 |
| Georgia | #106 | 73 | 1 in 483 |
| Oklahoma | #106 | 40 | 1 in 483 |
| Alabama | #107 | 48 | 1 in 479 |
| South Carolina | #107 | 40 | 1 in 448 |
| Texas | #109 | 212 | 1 in 565 |
| Arkansas | #112 | 26 | 1 in 520 |
| Missouri | #113 | 57 | 1 in 586 |
| Montana | #115 | 10 | 1 in 469 |
| North Carolina | #115 | 60 | 1 in 554 |
| District of Columbia | #116 | 13 | 1 in 432 |
| Colorado | #117 | 37 | 1 in 532 |
| Kentucky | #117 | 45 | 1 in 553 |
| Illinois | #118 | 137 | 1 in 564 |
| Virginia | #120 | 50 | 1 in 596 |
| Indiana | #121 | 61 | 1 in 606 |
| New Mexico | #121 | 19 | 1 in 491 |
| Kansas | #123 | 26 | 1 in 581 |
| Connecticut | #125 | 25 | 1 in 596 |
| Iowa | #128 | 30 | 1 in 669 |
| Rhode Island | #128 | 8 | 1 in 568 |
| Massachusetts | #129 | 49 | 1 in 638 |
| Tennessee | #129 | 43 | 1 in 661 |
| Oregon | #133 | 27 | 1 in 641 |
| Washington | #135 | 41 | 1 in 655 |
| Arizona | #136 | 31 | 1 in 622 |
| Utah | #138 | 27 | 1 in 610 |
| South Dakota | #142 | 8 | 1 in 585 |
| Maryland | #148 | 28 | 1 in 721 |
| Nebraska | #150 | 14 | 1 in 769 |
| Wisconsin | #151 | 38 | 1 in 829 |
| Louisiana | #161 | 40 | 1 in 768 |
| Nevada | #164 | 6 | 1 in 695 |
| California | #169 | 201 | 1 in 864 |
| North Dakota | #171 | 6 | 1 in 786 |
| Minnesota | #180 | 28 | 1 in 1,041 |
| Maine | #213 | 5 | 1 in 1,212 |
| Hawaii | #286 | 5 | 1 in 1,007 |
| Idaho | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Barbara
- 116 spots since 2024 (#852 → #968)
- 82 spots since 2020 (#886 → #968)
- 119 spots since 2015 (#849 → #968)
- Biggest jump: 136 spots in 2006 (#674 → #538)
- Biggest drop: 148 spots in 2012 (#745 → #893)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1942 at #2 (44,739 births)
- Births halved by 1962, 20 yrs later
- Top 10: 32 yrs · run 1927–1958
- Top 100: 64 yrs · run 1913–1976
- Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
- Highest: 1 in 28 girls born in 1938 were named Barbara (3.6%)
- Latest: 1 in 6,088 girls born in 2025 (0.02%)
- Its best rank, #2 in 1942, was only 1 in 30 (3.3%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
- 29.6% of all girls named Barbara (425,271) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,820 | #123 (1881) | #133 |
| 1890s | 2,783 | #145 (1896) | #153 |
| 1900s | 3,999 | #126 (1909) | #148 |
| 1910s | 23,704 | #60 (1918) | #88 |
| 1920s | 97,210 | #7 (1929) | #25 |
| 1930s | 296,420 | #2 (1938) | #3 |
| 1940s | 425,271 | #2 (1942) | #3 |
| 1950s | 345,722 | #4 (1950) | #7 |
| 1960s | 159,773 | #12 (1960) | #23 |
| 1970s | 42,237 | #41 (1970) | #80 |
| 1980s | 19,139 | #119 (1981) | #156 |
| 1990s | 8,859 | #207 (1990) | #331 |
| 2000s | 4,730 | #505 (2000) | #603 |
| 2010s | 3,263 | #692 (2010) | #845 |
| 2020s | 1,765 | #852 (2024) | #908 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Barbara in 1980
Top girls' names in 1980
Top boys' names in 1980
More about 1980
girls
1,660,307 girls got a published name in 1980; 1 in 644 of them was named Barbara, which outranked 99.0% of the 12,161 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,783,951 boys got a published name in 1980; 1 in 137,227 of them was named Barbara, which outranked 55.4% of the 7,293 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #3,098Werner14
- #3,098Wiliam14
- #3,098Yasir14
- #3,256Barbara13
- #3,256Able13
- #3,256Akram13
- #3,256Aleem13
- #3,430Adama12
- #3,430Almanzo12
- #3,430Anish12
Tied with 173 names at #3,256; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.