Barbara

Barbara comes from the ancient Greek adjective 'barbaros', which literally meant 'foreign' or 'non-Greek'. The Greeks used this term to describe anyone whose speech was unintelligible to them, the repetitive 'bar-bar' sound suggesting the mumbling of an unknown tongue. The word was not necessarily derogatory in early usage but simply meant 'other', though it later acquired connotations of uncultured or uncivilised. From this Greek root the word 'barbarian' is also derived.

The transition of Barbara from an ethnic descriptor to a personal name is largely due to the influence of Saint Barbara, an early Christian martyr whose story, though largely legendary, became enormously popular in the medieval church. Barbara was supposedly a young woman of great faith who was imprisoned by her pagan father and ultimately martyred. She became the patron saint of artillerymen, miners, and those facing sudden death, and her veneration spread across the whole of the Christian world.

The name entered Latin as 'Barbara' and was adopted across Europe as the cult of Saint Barbara grew. In England it appeared from the medieval period onwards, though it remained relatively uncommon until the twentieth century. Its peak popularity in Britain and America during the 1940s and 1950s appears to have been part of a broader fashion for strong, one-word names beginning with 'B', a cohort that included Betty, Beverly, and Brenda.

Saint Barbara is one of the most widely venerated female saints in Christian tradition, despite the largely legendary nature of her story. Her patronage extends to artillerymen, miners, and anyone who works with explosives or faces sudden violent death, leading to her image appearing on military insignia and in places of dangerous work. In many Catholic and Orthodox cultures she remains a popular name saint, celebrated on her feast day in December.

In twentieth-century Britain and America, Barbara was a name associated with a particular generation of capable, forthright women who came of age during and after the Second World War. The name carried a no-nonsense quality that suited the times, and it was borne by many of the most distinguished women of that era, from politicians and artists to scientists and entertainers. In Britain especially, the name has strong associations with the post-war welfare state generation.

In contemporary naming culture, Barbara sits at an interesting juncture. It is clearly dated to the mid-twentieth century and has been out of fashion for several decades, but this very datedness is beginning to give it a retro appeal. The pattern of grandparent names returning to use is well established, and Barbara is now old enough that it could plausibly be revived by a new generation of parents. Names like Beatrice and Bernadette, with a similar mid-century feel, have already made that journey.