Barbara is a given name used in numerous languages. It is the feminine form of the Greek word barbaros meaning "strange" or "foreign", from which the current term barbarian is also derived.

What is the biblical meaning of Barbara?

Meaning & History

Derived from Greek βάρβαρος (barbaros) meaning "foreign". According to legend, Saint Barbara was a young woman killed by her father Dioscorus, who was then killed by a bolt of lightning. She is the patron of architects, geologists, stonemasons and artillerymen.

What is the nickname for Barbara?

Common Nicknames for Barbara: Bab. Babs. Barbie.