Barbro
Fact sheet
- Name
- Barbro
- Gender
- Girl name
- Syllables
- 2
Barbro is a female first name that is considered the Swedish form of Barbara and means 'the foreigner'. This meaning derives from the Latin word 'barbara', which stands for 'foreign, strange, wild', and has its origin in the Ancient Greek 'bárbaros'.
What does the name Barbro mean?
The name Barbro, a Swedish derivative of Barbara, carries the meaning 'the foreigner'. This meaning comes from the Latin 'barbara', which means 'foreign, strange, wild', and traces back to the Ancient Greek 'bárbaros'. In antiquity, the Greeks used this term to refer to people who were not of Greek descent and did not speak Greek, which they considered uncivilized. More details about the origin of this name can be found on the name page of Barbara. The spread of the name Barbro, as well as its variants, in the Middle Ages is particularly attributed to the martyr Saint Barbara of Nicomedia from the 3rd century, who is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church and is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Notable bearers of the name include Swedish children's author Barbro Lindgren and Swedish singer Barbro Margareta Svensson, known as Lill-Babs. Internationally, there are numerous variants of Barbro and Barbara, including Barbe and Babette (French), Barbora (West Slavic, Lithuanian), Barbra and Barbie (English), Borbála (Hungarian), as well as Varvara (Russian, South Slavic) and Warwara (Russian).
Where does the name Barbro come from?
The first name Barbro has its roots in Ancient Greek and Latin and means 'the foreigner'. The etymology is composed as follows: Ancient Greek 'bárbaros' (βάρβαρος) means barbarian or non-Greek, while the Latin 'barbarus, -a, -um' stands for foreign, strange, or wild. The name belongs to the Nordic languages, particularly Norwegian and Swedish.
How do you pronounce Barbro?
The pronunciation of Barbro is two-syllable and harmonious. In German, the name is typically pronounced as 'Bar-bro' [ˈbaʁbʁo], with the emphasis on the first syllable. The double R connection gives the name a powerful, slightly rolling sound. The long O at the end provides a gentle, open finish. Overall, Barbro sounds distinctive and melodic, compact, independent, and has a Nordic influence.
When is the name day of Barbro?
The name day of Barbro is celebrated on December 4th in honor of Saint Barbara of Nicomedia.
Popularity
In Germany, Barbro is considered a rare name. In 2011, it ranked 2,438th on the list of the most common female baby names. Between 2010 and 2024, Barbro was given as a first name in Germany fewer than 10 times, which catapulted it to 9,958th place. However, in the last ten years, the name has not been used for newborns.
Nicknames & pet names
Babs / Babsan / Babschen / Babsi
Famous people
- Barbro Enberg (Swedish actress)
- Barbro Hiort af Ornäs (actress from Sweden)
- Barbro Kollberg (actress from Sweden)
- Barbro Kvale (Norwegian skier)
- Barbro Lindgren (writer from France)
- Barbro Margareta Svensson (Swedish singer)
- Barbro Oborg (Swedish actress)
- Barbro Östlihn (Swedish artist)
Frequently asked questions about the name Barbro
What is the origin of the name Barbro?
The first name Barbro has its roots in Ancient Greek and Latin. It derives from 'bárbaros', which means 'barbarian' or 'non-Greek', and is translated in Latin as 'barbarus', meaning 'foreign' or 'wild'.
What does the name Barbro mean?
Barbro means 'the foreigner'. This meaning comes from the Latin and Greek roots of the name, which originally referred to people who were not of Greek descent.
How popular is the name Barbro?
The name Barbro has a certain popularity in the Nordic countries, particularly in Sweden, but is overall less common than its variants like Barbara. Historically, it became popular through the veneration of Saint Barbara in the Middle Ages.