What does Barbara mean?
Barbara means “Stranger, foreigner”. It is a girl name of English, French, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Polis origin.
Origin, gender and faith
- Origin: English, French, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Polis – see more English, French, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Polis names.
- Gender: Girl – browse girl names.
- Popularity: ranked #2700 in BabyNameMeaningz data.
Sound, spelling and pronunciation
Barbara has 7 letters and 3 syllables, made of 3 vowels and 4 consonants (3 different letters). Its sound is best described as: open, flowing ending.
Press Listen at the top of the page to hear the name spoken aloud, which helps when you are comparing how a name sounds next to a surname or a sibling’s name.
How the lucky number, colour and star sign are worked out
These three facts are calculated from the spelling of Barbara with simple, fixed rules. They are for fun and are not a prediction or a real horoscope.
Lucky number
7Each letter gets its place in the alphabet (A=1 … Z=26): B=2 + A=1 + R=18 + B=2 + A=1 + R=18 + A=1 = 43. Then the digits are added until one digit is left: 4 + 3 = 7. Result: 7.
Favorite colour
VioletThe lucky number picks the colour from a fixed table. Barbara has lucky number 7, so the colour is Violet.
Star sign
TaurusOnly the first letter counts (B). The twelve signs repeat along the alphabet: A = Aries, B = Taurus … L = Pisces, then M = Aries again. It is not based on a birth date.
Nickname ideas for Barbara
Short and affectionate forms built from the spelling of Barbara. They are ideas, not traditional or cultural nicknames, so pick the ones that feel natural to say.
Couple names that go with Barbara
Partner names that match Barbara by origin, faith, length and sound (Boy names). The percentage is a style match, and the blend is a fun combined name.
How is the match % worked out?
Start at 60. Same origin +9, same faith +6, similar length up to +8, different first letter +5, same last two letters +3 (maximum 99). Blend = first half of one name + second half of the other.
Blend ideas: Barbara + Hanzala = Barbala · Barbara + Chipper = Barbper · Barbara + Coleson = Barbson · Barbara + Huzaim = Barbaim
Sibling names for Barbara
Names that sit well next to Barbara: similar origin and style, with a close length, sound or ending.
How are siblings chosen?
Start at 45. Same origin +10, same faith +8, same first letter +8, same last two letters +8, close length up to +10, close syllables up to +8, very similar spelling +6. Brothers and sisters are ranked separately.
Brother names
Sister names
Twin name ideas for Barbara
If Barbara is one twin’s name, these pair with it in different ways. Each percentage shows how well the pair fits that style.
How are twin names scored?
Same scoring as couples, plus a style bonus: Same first letter +18 (else −8), Same ending +18 (else −6), Balanced +5 for a different first letter and +3 for the same ending.
Same first letter
Same ending
Balanced match
Names with a similar meaning
Names whose meaning shares a key idea with Barbara (stranger, foreigner).
How are similar meanings found?
We take the first two meaningful words of the meaning (4+ letters, common words removed) and list names whose meaning contains the same word.
Frequently asked questions
What does Barbara mean?
Barbara means “Stranger, foreigner” and is of English, French, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Polis origin.
What is the origin of Barbara?
In our collection Barbara is listed as a name of English, French, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Polis origin.
Is Barbara a boy or a girl name?
Barbara is listed as a girl name.
What is the lucky number for Barbara?
By name numerology (A=1 … Z=26) the lucky number for Barbara is 7, with the star sign Taurus. This is for entertainment only.
How do you pronounce Barbara?
Barbara has 3 syllables. Use the listen button on this page to hear it spoken aloud.
What are some nicknames for Barbara?
Spelling-based nickname ideas for Barbara include Ba, Bar, Barb, Barba, Ara, Bary.
Which names have a similar meaning to Barbara?
Names with a related meaning include Tarya, Afija, Earlyn, Phabian, Erlander, Mckinlee.