Barbara is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the male Late Latin name "Barbarus," which was used for people who were non-Roman or foreign. The literal meaning of Barbara is "foreign" or "strange." However, it has also been suggested that the name may have come from the Aramaic word "barbara," meaning "to babble" or "stammer."
The name Barbara became popular in the Middle Ages due to the legend of Saint Barbara. According to the legend, Barbara was a young woman who converted to Christianity against her father's wishes. When her father discovered this, he tried to kill her but was struck by lightning before he could do so. The legend also states that Barbara's name came from the exclamation "Barbara!" made by the soldiers guarding her when they saw her beauty.
The name Barbara has been popular throughout history, particularly in English-speaking countries. It reached its peak popularity in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s but remains a common name today. Famous people named Barbara include actresses Barbara Stanwyck and Barbara Streisand, as well as former First Lady of the United States, Barbara Bush.
In literature, Barbara is also the name of the heroine in Samuel Richardson's novel "Clarissa," published in 1748. The name has been used in various other works of literature and art throughout history. Today, Barbara continues to be a popular choice for parents naming their daughters, with its unique origins and rich historical significance making it a timeless classic.
The data provided shows the annual number of births for the name Barbara in the United States from 1937 to 1969. Over this span of 33 years, there were a total of 54 babies named Barbara born each year.
Looking at the statistics year by year, we can observe that the most popular years for naming daughters Barbara were 1953 and 1960-1964, with eight births in 1953 and six births in each of the subsequent five years. These peak years show a consistent preference for the name Barbara during this period.
Conversely, there was a decrease in popularity from 1962 to 1969, with only five babies named Barbara born each year. This downward trend indicates that the name Barbara began to fall out of favor as a popular choice for girls' names towards the end of this timeframe.
Overall, while Barbara was a common name among newborns in the United States between 1937 and 1969, its popularity fluctuated over time, with peaks occurring in the mid-1950s to early 1960s and a decline starting in the late 1960s.