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Help[Opinions] Barbara
I've decided to ask about a dated name that I really dislike.
I hate this name. I admit, part of the reason that I dislike it so much may stem from the fact that it was the name of my father's first wife, about whom I've always had negative feelings. But I also feel that even if it weren't for that, I wouldn't have liked it. I feel it's so harsh sounding and it doesn't look nice written out, either...Bar and then bar again and then the A stuck on.
But there is the fact that it's an old, classic name, which is something in its favor, and also, it was so popular for so long. Evidently a lot of people saw something attractive in it, even though what it was is totally escaping me.
So, out of curiosity, what do you think of Barbara? If you can escape its datedness, do you like it? Think you might have used it way back when?
I hate this name. I admit, part of the reason that I dislike it so much may stem from the fact that it was the name of my father's first wife, about whom I've always had negative feelings. But I also feel that even if it weren't for that, I wouldn't have liked it. I feel it's so harsh sounding and it doesn't look nice written out, either...Bar and then bar again and then the A stuck on.
But there is the fact that it's an old, classic name, which is something in its favor, and also, it was so popular for so long. Evidently a lot of people saw something attractive in it, even though what it was is totally escaping me.
So, out of curiosity, what do you think of Barbara? If you can escape its datedness, do you like it? Think you might have used it way back when?
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Replies
Well, it's a saint's name, perhaps that's why some people liked it.
There was the figure-skater, Barbara ann Scott.she might have neen an inspiration.
There was the figure-skater, Barbara ann Scott.she might have neen an inspiration.
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I think it's too dated, sorry. The only Barbara's I know are quite old, and I can't stand nicknames like Babs or Bar. Also it makes me think of Babar the elephant!
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The only thing I really like about it is that it's my mom's name.
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Barbara doesn't bother me at all, perhaps because I've met so many and all of them were different - so it doesn't have the same effect on me as, say, Audrey or Brenda.
I'm not sure I'd ever have liked it enough to use it, but that's because there are so many names that I like much more. I'd enjoy meeting a baby Barbara.
I'm not sure I'd ever have liked it enough to use it, but that's because there are so many names that I like much more. I'd enjoy meeting a baby Barbara.
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If I could escape its datedness and all thoughts of Barbie dolls and the Bush family, I think I could like Barbara. If I just try to focus on how it sounds, I do kind of like it. It's nicely rhythmic and rolls right off the tongue. I even like the way it looks. Plus, there's Babs, which I've always thought was a fun, badass nickname.
Still, there were many other names popular at the height of Barbara's popularity that I like far more, so I would probably never have used it, even if I were a mom back in the day.
Still, there were many other names popular at the height of Barbara's popularity that I like far more, so I would probably never have used it, even if I were a mom back in the day.
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I don't really like it on its own. I don't mind it when its comboed like "Barbara Ann" as one name and I like Barb, though it isn't complete on its own, but something about Barbara doesn't do it for me. The datedness doesn't bother me tho.
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I hate Barbara too, but I do have a fondness for Margaret. That's mainly because I like the GR followed by a T (I also of course love Greta, Gretel, Gretchen). But both Barbara and Margaret do have the benefit of an AH sound and, if you don't pronounce the second a, both have the consonant + R sound, which tends to be nice; think Gabrielle, Ambrosia, Grace, etc. So those are a couple of principles that you could justify a liking for Barbara.
But, although I like the AH sound, I hate it jammed between two B's, and therein lies my hate for the name.
But, although I like the AH sound, I hate it jammed between two B's, and therein lies my hate for the name.
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I never saw the charm in it, it sounds like somebody talking through water.
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No, I've never liked it. The sound is really unappealing to me, like you mentioned, and I still find it dated. I would never have even considered it back in the day.
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I agree with you - even though I actually like some of the other names from the era like Joan and Nancy, Barbara is not a very euphonious name to many modern namers (unlike the other examples I gave). I feel that Barbara will become the next Ethel or Mildred (names many think sound unattractive that are still out of the mainstream while some of their other peers have been revived like Emma or Lillian).
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I really dislike it. I always found it weird how it's so long but only consists of three letters. B, A and R. I hate the Barbar-part and I hate all of the nicknames. I hope it doesn't come back. Ever.
Oh and I know a young Barbara who is in her 20s and used to know two who both went by Babsi.
Oh and I know a young Barbara who is in her 20s and used to know two who both went by Babsi.
This message was edited 5/13/2012, 2:04 PM
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I don't think there is any escaping it's datedness, that's for sure!
I had a university prof named Barbara who was boring as heck. But my husband has a coworker named Barb who is a very nice, caring individual. Both of these Barbara's are in the 55-65 age range. But now that I think about it I knew a Barb who is now around 30.
In any case, I see nothing positive in the name at all and find it very ho-hum. the only thing that spices it up a bit is the Beach Boys song.
I had a university prof named Barbara who was boring as heck. But my husband has a coworker named Barb who is a very nice, caring individual. Both of these Barbara's are in the 55-65 age range. But now that I think about it I knew a Barb who is now around 30.
In any case, I see nothing positive in the name at all and find it very ho-hum. the only thing that spices it up a bit is the Beach Boys song.
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I love Barbara (but don't like the English pronunciation) and plan to use it for my first daughter to honor my grandmother.
It's not dated here and it was never very popular (I know only two, both about 30). Bara and Barica are dated and were very popular in my grandmother's generation (1920s/30s).
*since people always ask, you can here the pronunciation in Croatian here: http://www.forvo.com/search-hr/barbara/
http://www.forvo.com/search-sl/barbara/
It's not dated here and it was never very popular (I know only two, both about 30). Bara and Barica are dated and were very popular in my grandmother's generation (1920s/30s).
*since people always ask, you can here the pronunciation in Croatian here: http://www.forvo.com/search-hr/barbara/
http://www.forvo.com/search-sl/barbara/
This message was edited 5/13/2012, 1:08 PM
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I've always disliked it too, I just find something frumpy and unattractive about it. I do have a friend Barbara who's in her late 20s with a funky sort of style and she's just sooo not a Barbara that it's started to make me see Barbara a bit differently. It makes me think of hot pink stuff and poofy hair. I don't like it, but I at least see a fun side to it now.
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I don't know any Barbaras and have never met any. The only vague associations I have with it are Barbara Castlemaine, Charles II's mistress, and the colour gold. So I think of magnificent barbaric powerful shiny ladies with red hair, wearing cloth of gold, and I quite like the name.
Barbie and Babs, though? Puketastic. That would definitely have put me off using it when they were popular. Someone suggested Bara as an nn - might have been Sofia - much nicer.
Barbie and Babs, though? Puketastic. That would definitely have put me off using it when they were popular. Someone suggested Bara as an nn - might have been Sofia - much nicer.
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I've never liked it. I used to think it was dated on Barbie the doll. In the seventies, when I was a little kid. I would wonder, why on earth would they give this supposedly young hip cute doll such a square name? Could there even be a clunkier name? So many bad sound associations, no good ones.
Barbarism.
Barber's pole.
Barbed wire.
Bahbahbah, bahbarbraaannn.
Bar-Bra.
Barbecue.
I'm Bawbwa Waltuzz for ABC...
Barf?
I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have liked it if I'd been born in 1910, either.
If I try to imagine it in a likeable light, I guess it must have seemed clear and strong and practical and prepared, like Joan, Margaret, or Carol. In 1938 the parent generation had just gotten through the Depression, right? So softness and frills were maybe not their style... I dunno.
Barbarism.
Barber's pole.
Barbed wire.
Bahbahbah, bahbarbraaannn.
Bar-Bra.
Barbecue.
I'm Bawbwa Waltuzz for ABC...
Barf?
I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have liked it if I'd been born in 1910, either.
If I try to imagine it in a likeable light, I guess it must have seemed clear and strong and practical and prepared, like Joan, Margaret, or Carol. In 1938 the parent generation had just gotten through the Depression, right? So softness and frills were maybe not their style... I dunno.
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