Barbera is a feminine Italian given name of Spanish origin. The name is derived from the Spanish word "barbero," which means "barber." Historically, this name was often given to children born in barbershops or whose fathers were barbers.
The name Barbera has been used since at least the Middle Ages in Italy and Spain. It was particularly popular during the Renaissance period when many artists incorporated it into their works of art. For example, the famous Italian painter Titian included a character named Barbera in one of his paintings.
Over time, variations of the name have emerged, including Barbara, which is now more commonly used than Barbera. However, both names share the same origin and meaning. Today, Barbera remains a relatively rare given name but continues to be used by families with Italian or Spanish heritage who wish to honor their cultural roots.
These statistics show a varied trend for the name Barbera over time. The name's popularity peaked in the mid-20th century, with the highest number of births occurring in 1951 at 10 babies born that year. However, it seems to have been less common earlier on (only 5 births in 1925) and has seen a decline since the late 1970s.