Holding steady.
Popularity of Barbee since 1929
Babies named Barbee per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1952, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Barbee's real moment was 1929.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 9 |
| 1930s | 11 |
| 1940s | 26 |
| 1950s | 49 |
| 1960s | 13 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Barbee is an uncommon name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1929, its peak year with the highest number of recorded births. Since then, its usage has been minimal, with no significant resurgence. The name is a variant spelling of Barbie, which itself became widely recognized through the Barbie doll introduced in 1959, though Barbee predates that cultural phenomenon. As a rare name, it has not ranked among the top 1,000 names in any recent year. The name is sometimes associated with the classic nickname Barb, which was common for Barbara during the early to mid-20th century.
Barbee is a variant spelling of Barbie, itself a diminutive of Barbara. Barbara derives from the Greek word barbaros, meaning 'foreign' or 'strange', which was the origin of the name's association with Saint Barbara, a legendary Christian martyr. The name saw use in English-speaking countries alongside the parent name Barbara, which was particularly popular in the mid-20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Barb, Barbie
Sibling names for Barbee
Names that share Barbee's style, for a brother or sister.
