Barbara

[bahr-bruh, -ber-uh]

Origin

noun

a female given name: from a Greek word meaning “foreign, exotic.”

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source

Link To Barbara

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

Barbara

fem. proper name, from L., fem. of barbarus "strange, foreign, barbarous," from Gk. barbaros (see barbarian). For women, unlike men, the concept of "alien" presumably could be felt as "exotic" and thus make an appealing name. Popularized as a Christian name by the legend

EXPAND

of Saint Barbara, early 4c. martyr, whose cult was popular from 7c. The common M.E. form was Barbary. A top 10 name in popularity for girls born in the U.S. between 1927 and 1958.

COLLAPSE

Barbara

Bar·ba·ra