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Help[Opinions] Re: Barbara “Barbie”
in reply to a message by honeyberry04
I've been thinking about the names Barbara, Barbie, and Babs on and off since the Barbie movie last summer. I don’t like Barbara—it just feels like a frumpy, old-fashioned name to me with no hurry to see it return. Barbara Bush can pull it off, but just barely.
Barbie, on the other hand, is kind of cute. I used to cringe whenever I met an older woman named Barbie because of the association with the doll. It felt strange to have a name so closely tied to a pop culture figure. However, when I was a teenager, I had a youth group leader named Barbie, who was in her 20s at the time and is now in her 30s. She was (and still is) a gorgeous brunette—not blonde—sweet, outgoing, and a great representation of what I think a girl named Barbie could be. She made the name seem more usable to me on a young girl.
That said, I think I prefer Bara to Barbara as the legal name. Bara has been on my mind since watching Game of Thrones, specifically after seeing Bobby B’s daughter by the prostitute Mhaegen. She was named Barra, possibly as a nod to being fathered by a Baratheon. Despite the tragic association, it's one of the names that stuck with me from the show since my first viewing. Bara feels like a more modern and usable alternative because of its short length and -ra ending, which fits with current trends seen in names like Kira, Kyra, Cara, Clara, and Flora etc.
Lately, I've also been keen on the name "Babs." One of my classmates calls her girlfriend "Babs" instead of "Babe," giving it a sweet, cutesy, and familiar vibe. I would consider using it as a term of endearment for a child regardless of their legal name, similar to how people use "Sweetie" or "Honey." I like it, and it's been on my mind lately. In fact, I've been working on a short story featuring a character named Babs as a result of this fondness.
I think any of these names—Barbie, Bara, and Babs—could theoretically work in the modern day, but Barbara feels the least fitting. I wouldn't mind Barbara coming back around someday, but not in my lifetime while it still has its ragdoll imagery. "Barbie" is beautiful and plastic, but "Barbara" is a ragdoll filled with sawdust. Familiar, but terribly beat down and worn.
Please rate my "Names I would Use" list & "Backup Favorites" list. Feel free to rate some of my other lists too if you have the time.
https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/223226/138473
Barbie, on the other hand, is kind of cute. I used to cringe whenever I met an older woman named Barbie because of the association with the doll. It felt strange to have a name so closely tied to a pop culture figure. However, when I was a teenager, I had a youth group leader named Barbie, who was in her 20s at the time and is now in her 30s. She was (and still is) a gorgeous brunette—not blonde—sweet, outgoing, and a great representation of what I think a girl named Barbie could be. She made the name seem more usable to me on a young girl.
That said, I think I prefer Bara to Barbara as the legal name. Bara has been on my mind since watching Game of Thrones, specifically after seeing Bobby B’s daughter by the prostitute Mhaegen. She was named Barra, possibly as a nod to being fathered by a Baratheon. Despite the tragic association, it's one of the names that stuck with me from the show since my first viewing. Bara feels like a more modern and usable alternative because of its short length and -ra ending, which fits with current trends seen in names like Kira, Kyra, Cara, Clara, and Flora etc.
Lately, I've also been keen on the name "Babs." One of my classmates calls her girlfriend "Babs" instead of "Babe," giving it a sweet, cutesy, and familiar vibe. I would consider using it as a term of endearment for a child regardless of their legal name, similar to how people use "Sweetie" or "Honey." I like it, and it's been on my mind lately. In fact, I've been working on a short story featuring a character named Babs as a result of this fondness.
I think any of these names—Barbie, Bara, and Babs—could theoretically work in the modern day, but Barbara feels the least fitting. I wouldn't mind Barbara coming back around someday, but not in my lifetime while it still has its ragdoll imagery. "Barbie" is beautiful and plastic, but "Barbara" is a ragdoll filled with sawdust. Familiar, but terribly beat down and worn.
Please rate my "Names I would Use" list & "Backup Favorites" list. Feel free to rate some of my other lists too if you have the time.
https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/223226/138473
