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Barbara is one of the few "dated" names I actually like - and I'm not even normally a fan of the B sound, to be honest. I don't really know why I like Barbara so much, but it's nice.

I don't care for it at all. I would even go as far as saying it's one of my most despised names. I think it'd hopelessly dated, harsh and has no pleasant nicknames to fall back on. I absolutely do think it's odd to see a Barbara born in 2015 and also unsettling and unfortunate. Some older, vintage names I'm fine with and even think they'd work on someone younger but Barbara just isn't one of them. The name should go into permanent retirement.

Very ugly and dated, in my opinion. I had a math teacher in school named Barbara whom I didn’t like at all, so that adds to it.
Plus, there aren’t many good nicknames. Barb? Barbs? Barbie? Bara is fine, but it’s the only appealing one.

Have never liked it nor any of its nicknames.

I quite adore the name Barbara. It is a classic, vintage name with plenty of nickname options and doesn't sound immature on adults. All those older women with this name were once babies and small children, so I don't see why this name can't be used in future generations.

My grandmother’s name was Barbara, so the name seems old lady-ish to me. However, when I think about it objectively, Barbara is actually kinda pretty and could be youthful. It is not for me but I would accept it on someone else.

I've always hated the name Barbara. It's just really harsh sounding and the repeated syllables don't look or sound nice. Mom has a much better name than daughter, to say the least. Yes, it is odd to see a Barbara born in 2015.

I don't hate it, but I certainly don't like it. It's such a bulbous name. Barbara. It's like two sound lumps shoved together.

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But if I concentrate, it can seem very neat and tidy. It's almost nautical to me. However, when I just think about the name casually, and I don't try to see its good points, it seems hopelessly middle-aged and banal.

This message was edited 6/6/2020, 3:16 AM

I dislike it, it sounds rough while simultaneously being very boring. I don't think it's odd though, since it's very popular where I'm from. It is more common among older generations, but I'm 16 and know many Barbaras who are about my age. Most of them go by Basia.

I wish I liked Barbara, but it's just so dated. It was my great grandmother's name (well, Barbora, the Lithuanian version), and from what I've heard, she sounds like she was a lovely lady. The name just feels so clunky (and not in a chic way) and makes me imagine women in their late 50s to 60s. But who knows, Barb from Stranger Things made it seem a bit younger, though comically uncool.

I like Barbara! It's cheerful and friendly, and if only it hadn't been so very popular it could have settled down comfortably and become just another usable classic. But perhaps now its popular days are far enough in the past ... I'd be glad to see some young ones.

I like it, tbh. A podcaster I listen to has daughters born in the last couple years named Barbara "Bebe" and Dorothy "Dot" and I think that's a sweet vintage set.

I love Barbara and the Polish nickname Basia.

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I also think it sounds lovely as a three-syllable name but not so much as a two-syllable name.

I dont really like it

I like it, too...

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I find it sonorous in an atypically feminine way. Plus, the nickname Bara has so much character.

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I like the combinations Barbara Cecily, Barbara Eloise, Barbara Genevieve, and Barbara Winifred.