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Barbara facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The name Barbara is a popular girl's name used in many languages around the world. It comes from the ancient Greek word barbaros, which means "foreign" or "stranger." In countries like Spain, Portugal, and Italy, Barbara can also mean "barbarian" or "barbaric."

Even though it was super popular in the 1930s (it was the 3rd most common name!), its popularity has changed over time. Today, it's still among the top 100 most popular names in countries like Chile and Poland. Many famous people have been named Barbara, including actresses like Barbara Stanwyck and singers like Barbra Streisand. The name has also been used for several hurricanes.

People Named Barbara

Many interesting people throughout history and today share the name Barbara. Here are a few examples:

  • Saint Barbara: A legendary early Christian saint.
  • Barbara Bush: She was the First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993, married to President George H.W. Bush.
  • Barbara Castle: A well-known British politician who worked to improve people's lives.
  • Barbara Stanwyck: A famous American actress who starred in many movies during Hollywood's Golden Age.
  • Barbra Streisand: A very successful American singer and actress, known for her powerful voice and many hit songs and films.
  • Barbara Wagner: A Canadian figure skater who won an Olympic gold medal in pairs skating.
  • Barbara Riveros Diaz: A Chilean triathlete who competes in swimming, cycling, and running.

Places Named Barbara

The name Barbara is also used for various places around the world:

  • Barbara, Marche: A small town located in Italy.
  • Santa Barbara, California: A beautiful city in California, USA, known for its beaches and Spanish-style architecture.
  • Santa Barbara County, California: A county in California that includes the city of Santa Barbara and surrounding areas.

Barbara in Media

The name Barbara has appeared in many forms of media, including films and TV shows:

  • Barbara: An Argentine film from 1980.
  • Barbara: A German film released in 2012.
  • Barbara (TV series): A British TV comedy show.

Barbara in Science

You can even find the name Barbara in the world of science:

  • Barbara (genus): This is a group of moths.
  • 234 Barbara: This is the name of an asteroid, a small rocky body orbiting the Sun.
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Barbara Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.