Given name & surname
Barbie
“foreign woman”·“a traveler from a foreign land; a stranger”
In English use, Barbie is a diminutive of Barbara. Interpretations include “foreign woman” and “a traveler from a foreign land; a stranger” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Barbie is a diminutive of Barbara. Interpretations include “foreign woman” and “a traveler from a foreign land; a stranger” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Barbie is a diminutive of Barbara. An origin associated with Barbara is Latin.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Barbie is a diminutive of Barbara.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1936. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Barbie through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,204
- 0 boys · 4,204 girls
- Most popular year
- 1964
- 190 babies
- 2025
- 33
- #4,277 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +30%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 33 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,277 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 29.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 190 in 1964. In 2025, Pennsylvania had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (20). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,993 as a first name in 2020; 261 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Barbie’s family of names
In English usage, Barbie is a diminutive of Barbara. In German usage, Barbie has a related form in Barbi. Barbie is an affectionate form of Barbara.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Barbie has relatives in 10 languages.
14 related names in 10 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 13
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Barbeequivalent
- Barbareequivalent
- Barbequivalent
- BasiaPolish
- BabsDutch
- BasieńkaPolish
- BaśkaPolish
- Barbiersource · French
Show 5 moreShow fewer
People named Barbie
- Barbie FerreiraAmerican model and actressborn 1996
- Barbie HsuTaiwanese actress, singer and television presenter (1976–2025)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Barbie, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Laurie
“man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel” · “crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree”
>99% girls
Valarie
“strong and valiant”
>99% girls
Suzie
“resembling a graceful white lily”
>99% girls
Pennie
Pennie is a surname.
>99% girls
Annmarie
“filled with bitter grace”
>99% girls
Debbie
“bee”
>99% girls
Darcie
“a dark beauty”
>99% girls
Marcie
“dedicated to Mars, the god of war”
>99% girls