Barb: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	6	1	–	#3,883
1940s	201	20	+3250%	#1,577
1950s	1,460	146	+626%	#445
1960s	2,140	214	+47%	#440
1970s	46	5	-98%	#2,782
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

#3,883

1940s

201

+3250%

#1,577

1950s

1,460

146

+626%

#445

1960s

2,140

214

+47%

#440

1970s

-98%

#2,782

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Barb

Barb is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1938, 3,853 American babies have been named Barb. Its peak came in 1960, when 493 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Barb stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Barb?

The median living Barb is about 65 years old; half are between 63 and 67. An estimated 3,300 people named Barb are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Barb year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	25	#2,782
1965	149	#815
1960	493	#440
1955	51	#1,406
1950	17	#2,444
1945	17	#2,071
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Barb, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Barb?

The median living Barb is about 65 years old. Half of all living Barbs are between 63 and 67 years old.

How many people named Barb are alive today?

An estimated 3,300 people named Barb are alive in the United States, based on 3,853 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Barb mean?

A diminutive of the female given name Barbara.

How popular is the name Barb in 2025?

Barb did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Barb?

3,853 babies have been named Barb in the United States since 1938, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Barb most popular?

Barb peaked in 1960, when 493 newborns received the name.

Is Barb a boy or girl name?

Barb is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Barb rising or falling?

Barb has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Barb

Barb popularity over time

The story of Barb

How old are people named Barb?

Barb year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Barb