Barbara
Barbara comes from the Greek "barbaros," meaning foreign or strange. To the ancient Greeks, anyone who did not speak Greek was a "barbaros" — their speech sounded like "bar-bar-bar." The word is the root of "barbarian." Saint Barbara, a 3rd-century martyr, was according to legend killed by her own father for converting to Christianity; he was then struck by lightning. Barbara was one of the dominant American names of the 1930s-40s. It was the #2 girl name from 1937 to 1944, behind only Mary. Barbara Bush (First Lady) and Barbara Walters (broadcast journalist) defined the name for the late 20th century. Then the name collapsed: it left the top 100 in 1981 and the top 1000 in 2008. What I find interesting is how completely Barbara fell out of favor. Names like Eleanor and Alice came back; Barbara did not. The "b" at both ends gives the name a slightly heavy quality, and the three blunt syllables lack the softness that modern parents prefer. But the 1930s generation is now great-grandmothers, and Barbara may yet return. Barbara is a female name of Greek origin that means "Foreign, stranger". Mid-century, direct, and formidable. The name sounds serious. Barbaras tend to be no-nonsense. US #2 in 1937-1944. Outside top 1000 since 2008. Well-known people named Barbara include Barbara Bush (First Lady), Barbara Walters (journalist), Barbara Streisand (singer/actress), Saint Barbara (martyr). Common variations and related forms of Barbara include Barbra (simplified, as in Streisand), Barbro (Swedish), Bárbara (Spanish/Portuguese), Varvara (Russian).