Barrie is a unique and distinctive given name that hails from Scottish origin. It is derived from the Scottish surname "Barry," which itself has Norman roots. The name Barry is believed to have been brought to Scotland by the Normans who invaded England in the 11th century.
The meaning of Barrie, like its variant Barry, is said to be "bear" or "strong." This association with strength and power likely stems from the Old French word "ber," which means "bear." Interestingly, despite its Scottish origins, there is no direct connection between Barrie and the famous Scottish author J.M. Barrie, who created the character Peter Pan.
The use of Barrie as a given name appears to have gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was likely influenced by the success of J.M. Barrie's works, particularly "Peter Pan," which was first published in 1911. However, it is important to note that the author's full name was James Matthew Barrie, so his middle name could be a factor contributing to its popularity as well.
In recent years, Barrie has been used more frequently as a unisex given name, although it remains relatively uncommon compared to other names of Scottish origin. Despite this, it continues to appeal to parents seeking a distinctive and meaningful name for their child, with the added benefit of its association with strength and power.
It appears that the name Barrie experienced significant popularity from the late 1920s to the mid-1940s, with a peak of 58 births in 1942. However, its usage has declined steadily since then, with only 5 births recorded in 2022. Overall, there have been 1337 births named Barrie from 1924 to 2022.