Barbra

The name Barbra represents an English variant of Barbara and means 'the foreigner'. This meaning derives from the Latin word barbara, which means 'foreign, strange, wild', and traces back to the Ancient Greek word bárbaros.

What does the name Barbra mean?

Barbra is an English form of the name Barbara and carries the meaning 'the foreigner'. This meaning originates from the Latin word barbara, which stands for 'foreign, strange, wild', and is linked to the Ancient Greek term bárbaros. In ancient Greece, it referred to people who were not of Greek origin or who did not speak the Greek language. The spread of the name in the Middle Ages is mainly attributed to the martyr Barbara of Nicomedia from the 3rd century, who is regarded as a saint in both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches and is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. The form Barbra is particularly common in the English-speaking world, especially in the USA. A prominent bearer of the name is the American singer and actress Barbra Streisand. Other well-known international variants include Barbe and Babette (French), Barbora (West Slavic, Lithuanian), Borbála (Hungarian), as well as Varvara (Russian, South Slavic) and Warwara (Russian).

Where does the name Barbra come from?

The name Barbra has its roots in Ancient Greek and Latin and means 'the foreigner'. The etymology can be summarized as follows: Ancient Greek bárbaros (βάρβαρος) means barbarian or non-Greek, while the Latin barbarus, -a, -um stands for foreign, strange, or wild. The language in which Barbra is primarily used is American English.

How do you pronounce Barbra?

The pronunciation of Barbra is clear and compact. The name is usually pronounced as 'Bar-bra' [ˈbaʁbʁa] and begins with a distinct, firm onset. The consonant cluster in the middle creates tension that is released in the open '-ra'. Overall, the name conveys a striking and structured impression - compact but not harsh.

When is the name day of Barbra?

The name day for Barbra is celebrated on December 4th in honor of Saint Barbara of Nicomedia.

Popularity

In Germany, Barbra is a rather rare first name. It has not yet appeared in the German name popularity lists. The best placement for Barbra was in 2013, ranking 2,137th in the Italian name charts. From 1999 to 2024, the name was given less than 10 times in Italy, placing it at 7,492nd. In the last ten years, no child has been named this way.

Nicknames & pet names

Babs

Famous people

• Barbra Amesbury (singer from Canada)
• Barbra Fontana (American beach volleyball player)
• Barbra Fuller (actress from the USA)
• Barbra Lica (American singer)
• Barbra Ring (Norwegian writer)
• Barbra Streisand (actress, singer)