Barbara vs Richard

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Barbara

Girl #860 Most Popular 3 Syllables

"foreign woman, stranger"

Origin: Greek barbaros

English American German Italian Spanish

✓ All Clear

Boy #232 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"strong ruler, powerful leader"

Origin: Germanic

English French German Spanish Italian

12 High Risk

{:type=>:nickname, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Richard' can be twisted to 'bitch'"}

Barbara Rank #860

Richard Rank #232

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 vs #860 for Barbara.

Is Barbara or Richard more popular?

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 compared to Barbara at #860 in the United States.

What do Barbara and Richard mean?

Barbara means "foreign woman, stranger" (Greek barbaros origin). Richard means "strong ruler, powerful leader" (Germanic origin).

Are Barbara and Richard boy or girl names?

Barbara is primarily a girl name. Richard is primarily a boy name.