Barbara

The name Barbara is a girl's name of Latin origin meaning "foreign woman". If you can get the lively young Barbara Bush to replace her grandmother's white-haired image, you might discover a rhythmic classic with an interesting history. Barbara is undoubtedly among the most classic girl names starting with B. There is the popular third century St. Barbara, who was reputed to have been imprisoned in a tower and so became the patron of architects, stonemasons, fortifications, and geologists. Barbaras appear in works by Dickens and Thackeray and, most notably, as the idealistic protagonist of the George Bernard Shaw play Major Barbara. Noteworthy bearers include actress Barbara Stanwyck (born Ruby), novelist Barbara Pym, TV's Barbara Walters, and "My Name is Barbra" Streisand. Barbara Gordon was the original Batgirl in the comic books. Barbara entered the Top 100 in 1913, and then the Top 10 a decade and a half later; she held the Number 2 spot from 1937 to 1944. At this point in time, Bebe, Bobbie, or Babs might make a cuter retro nickname than Barbie. Bottom line: Though she now seems to have a terminally middle-aged image, the classic and lovely Barbara will eventually make a comeback.