Varvara

Varvara is a Slavic variant of the name Barbara and carries the meaning 'the foreigner'. This meaning comes from the Latin word barbara, which translates to 'foreign, strange, wild', and has its origin in the Ancient Greek term bárbaros.

What does the name Varvara mean?

Varvara is a Slavic variant of Barbara and means 'the foreigner'. The origin of the term goes back to the Latin word barbara, which means 'foreign, strange, wild' and is derived from the Ancient Greek word bárbaros. In antiquity, it referred to people who were not Greek or who did not speak the Greek language. For more information on the development of this name, please see the page on Barbara. The spread of the name in the Middle Ages is mainly due to Saint Barbara of Nicomedia, who lived in the 3rd century and is venerated as a saint in both the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. The name Varvara is particularly common in Russia, but also in Bulgaria, Greece, and North Macedonia. A Russian spelling is Warwara. Pet forms of Varvara include Varenka and Varinka. International variants of Varvara or Barbara include Barbe and Babette (French), Barbora (Czech), Barbra and Barbie (English), as well as Borbála (Hungarian).

How do you pronounce Varvara?

The pronunciation of Varvara is three syllables and has a powerful rhythm. In German, the name is usually pronounced as 'Var-va-ra' [ˈvaʁvaʁa], with the repetition of the V and R sounds giving the sound a lively note. The open A sounds provide breadth and energy. As a result, Varvara appears spirited and tradition-conscious – striking, sonorous, and self-assured.

When is the name day of Varvara?

The name day of Varvara is celebrated on December 4.

Popularity

In Germany, Varvara is among the popular first names and currently ranks 1,150th on the list of the most common female baby names. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 160 times, placing it at 1,834th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, Varvara ranks 2,046th. The global popularity and frequency of the name Varvara is reflected in its recent rankings in various countries.

Nicknames & pet names

Varja / Vavi

Famous people

• Varvara Adrianovna Gaigerova (composer from Russia)
• Varvara Baruzdina (Russian artist)
• Varvara Bubnova (Russian artist)
• Varvara Fasoi (Greek cyclist)
• Varvara Flink (Russian tennis player)
• Varvara Lepchenko (American tennis player)
• Varvara Massalitinova (actress from Russia)
• Varvara Nikolaevna Golovina (Russian artist)
• Varvara Popova (Russian actress)
• Varvara Rudneva (Italian physicist)
• Varvara Stepanova (artist from Russia)
• Varvara Vasilyevna Panina (Russian singer)
• Varvara Zelenskaya (Russian alpine skier)