Barbra is a female given name of Hebrew origin and means "foreign woman." The name has roots in the Bible, where it is mentioned as a shortened form of the Hebrew name Barrat or the Aramaic name Barrakhab. In the Old Testament, Barbra was the wife of Abraham's nephew Lot.
Throughout history, the name Barbra has been associated with various notable figures. One of the most famous bearers of this name is American singer and actress Barbra Streisand, born Barbara Joan Streisand in 1942. She became known professionally by her first name Barbra, which she started using around the age of 13 or 14.
The popularity of the name Barbra has varied over time and across different cultures. In some countries, such as the United States, it was more common during the mid-20th century. Today, it is still used but less frequently than in previous decades.
In terms of pronunciation, the name Barbra can vary depending on cultural influences and personal preference. In Hebrew, it is pronounced as.barˈbɾa/, while in English-speaking countries, it is often pronounced /ˈbærbrə/.
The name Barbra experienced considerable popularity fluctuations over the years. It started with a consistent five births annually from 1882 to 1898, but saw a significant increase in the early 1900s, peaking at 343 births in 1966. However, its popularity declined steeply afterwards, with only five births recorded in each of the years 2013, 2014. Overall, there were 7758 births named Barbra from 1882 to 2014.