Barbie

Updated: October 19, 2021 by MomsWhoThink Staff

When you hear the baby name Barbie, you may instantly think of the popular doll made by Mattel. This option is actually much older than that, however, starting as a nickname for Barbara. Though no longer a top 1,000 name, it was a top 800 name for three years in the 1960s.

Meaning of the name Barbie:

English: foreign woman

Origin of the name Barbie:

Barbie began as a nickname for the more traditional and serious name Barbara. This latter name came from the Greek word “barbaros.” The first Barbara was a character in mythology who watched over architects and geologists, becoming popular among Christians in the Middle Ages in England.

Symbolism of the name Barbie:

Barbie has the same meaning as the baby name Barbara. The Greek word “barbaros” that this latter name comes from means “foreign” in English.

Style of the name Barbie:

Traditional

Gender of the name Barbie:

Barbie is a fun baby name for girls.

Pronunciation of the name Barbie:

BAHR-bee

Number of syllables in the name Barbie:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Barbie:

Barbie is a fun and simple name for baby girls. It feels young and outgoing, full of personality.

Alternative spellings for the name Barbie:

Barbi
Barbee
Barbei
Barbey
Barby
Barbeigh

Nicknames for the name Barbie:

Barb
Bar
Barbs
Ba
Bee

Popularity of the name Barie:

The baby name Barbie was only a top 1,000 baby name on the Social Security Popularity Index in the 1960s. It arrived in 1961 at rank 934, becoming a top 800 name in 1963 at rank 796. The name did find its last year thus far on the top 1,000 list in 1968 at rank 939.