Barbi
A diminutive form of the name Barbara, derived from Greek meaning "foreign, stranger".
Name Census estimates that about 504 living Americans carry the first name Barbi. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Barbi today is around 55 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Barbi births was 1975 (41 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Barbi. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
504
~ 1 in 680,068 Americans
Peak year
1975
41 babies that year
Average age
55
years old
1987 SSA rank
#11,481
Tracked since 1953
Popularity
Barbi: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Barbi from the 1950s through to the 1980s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 246 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Barbi remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Barbi by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Barbi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Barbis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Texas, California, Illinois recorded the most babies named Barbi, while Illinois, California, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 9 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Barbi
The name Barbi has its roots in ancient Greek culture, originating from the Greek word "barbaros," which means "foreign" or "non-Greek." The word was initially used by the ancient Greeks to describe anyone who did not speak their language or share their customs. Over time, it evolved into a personal name, particularly popular in regions with Greek cultural influences.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Barbi can be traced back to the Byzantine Empire, where it was used to refer to individuals of non-Greek descent. During this period, the name was often associated with foreigners or outsiders who had settled within the Byzantine territories.
In later centuries, the name Barbi gained popularity across various European regions, including Italy and France. It is believed that the name made its way to these areas through trade and cultural exchanges with the Byzantine Empire.
One notable figure bearing the name Barbi was Barbi Gozzadini, an Italian historian and archaeologist born in 1801 in Bologna, Italy. He made significant contributions to the study of ancient Roman inscriptions and was a respected scholar in his field.
Another prominent individual with the name Barbi was Barbi Brossmann, a German actress and singer born in 1938. She gained recognition for her roles in various films and television shows, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s.
In the realm of literature, Barbi Marković was a Serbian writer and poet born in 1888. Her works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, earning her a place in the literary canon of her country.
The name Barbi also has religious connotations, as it was borne by Saint Barbara, a 3rd-century Christian martyr from modern-day Turkey. Her feast day is celebrated on December 4th by various Christian denominations.
Another noteworthy figure named Barbi was Barbi Streisand, an American singer, actress, and filmmaker born in 1942. Known for her powerful voice and versatile talent, she has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, receiving numerous accolades throughout her illustrious career.
While the name Barbi has its origins rooted in ancient Greek culture, it has transcended its initial meaning and has been embraced by various cultures and societies over the centuries, with individuals bearing this name leaving their mark in diverse fields and contributions to human history.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Barbi
People
Barbi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Barbi as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Barbi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Barbi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 504 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Barbi going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 680,068 US residents.
Is Barbi a common name?
We classify Barbi as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 586 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Barbi most popular?
The single biggest year for Barbi was 1975, when 41 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Barbi is about 55 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Barbi a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Barbi in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.