Barb
Fact sheet
- Name
- Barb
- Gender
- Girl name
- Syllables
- 1
Barb represents an English short form of the name Barbara and means "the foreigner." This meaning traces back to the Latin word barbara, which means "foreign, strange, wild" and has its roots in the Ancient Greek term bárbaros.
What does the name Barb mean?
Barb is a short form of Barbara in English and carries the meaning "the foreigner." This meaning comes from the Latin word barbara, which means "foreign, strange, wild" and originally derives from the Ancient Greek term bárbaros. The ancient Greeks used this expression to describe people who were neither of Greek descent nor spoke the Greek language, and thus were considered uncivilized. Further details about the origin of this name can be found on the page for Barbara. Barb can also be used as a short form of the English variant Barbra as well as the pet forms Barbi and Barbie. Other English short and pet forms of Barbara include Babs and Babsi.
Where does the name Barb come from?
The name Barb has its roots in Ancient Greek and Latin and means "the foreigner." Ancient Greek: bárbaros (βάρβαρος) = Barbarian, non-Greek; Latin: barbarus, -a, -um = foreign, strange, wild. Languages: English.
How do you pronounce Barb?
The pronunciation of Barb is concise and compact. In the German pronunciation, the name is usually pronounced as "Barb" [baʁp], with the emphasis on the long A sound, which gives the name a certain expansiveness. The rolled or aspirated R adds a slight roughness to the sound, while the hard final consonant provides a distinct closure. Overall, Barb conveys a short, direct impression with clear contours.
When is the name day of Barb?
The name day for Barb is celebrated on December 4th in honor of Saint Barbara of Nicomedia.
Popularity
In Germany, Barb is a rather rare first name. It has not appeared in the German first name charts so far. The name Barb was most successful in 1960, when it ranked 440th in the US name charts. Between 1930 and 2024, the name Barb was given approximately 3,900 times in the USA, placing it at 2,033rd. However, in the last ten years, it has not been used as a first name at all.
Famous people
- Barb Bond (rugby player)
- Barb Broen Ouellette (Canadian beach volleyball player)
- Barb Bunkowsky (Canadian pro golfer)
- Barb Byrum (politician)
- Barb Fisher (Canadian politician)
- Barb Galler Smith (sci-fi author)
- Barb Goodwin (politician)
- Barb Heinz (handball player)
- Barb Hendee (writer)
- Barb Higgins (journalist)
- Barb Jungr (singer)
- Barb Morrison (singer and songwriter)
- Barb Mucha (pro golfer from the USA)
- Barb Rausch (comic artist)
- Barb Spencer (Canadian curler)
- Barb Yarusso (politician)
Frequently asked questions about the name Barb
What is the origin of the name Barb?
The name Barb has its roots in Ancient Greek and Latin, where it means 'the foreigner.' The Ancient Greek term 'bárbaros' referred to non-Greeks, while the Latin 'barbarus' had similar meanings.
What does the name Barb mean?
Barb means 'the foreigner' and is derived from the Latin word 'barbara,' which comes from the Ancient Greek 'bárbaros.' Originally, it was used to describe people who were not of Greek descent.
How popular is the name Barb?
Barb is a less common short form, but it is known in various English-speaking countries. Its popularity varies, with the full form Barbara traditionally being used more frequently.