Total births
3,853
Girls' name · since 1938
Barb
Since 1938, U.S. Social Security records show 3,853 babies named Barb, peaking in 1960. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 3,853
- total births
- 1938–1972
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 56%
- born in that decade
Barb sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 3,853 recorded since 1938.
Barb has 3,853 recorded births among girls since 1938, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used girls names, busiest in the 1960s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1938 to 1972.
- 3,853 total births
- 1938–1972 years on record
- 1960s peak decade
- 56% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
3,853 girls have been named Barb since 1938, peaking in the 1960s, last recorded in 1972.
- 3,853
- total births
- 1938–1972
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 56%
- born in that decade
1960s
Peak decade
56% of everyone ever named Barb was born in this single decade.
1960
Single peak year
493 babies were named Barb in 1960 - its busiest year on record.
Barb's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Barb's SSA record in two at 1956 and the more recent half accounts for 91% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 9%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1938, with only 6 births recorded -- set against the 1960 peak of 493, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Barb at a glance
Last recorded 1972Peak year
1960
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1938
Barb popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1938–1972
- Peak year (1960)
- 493
- Annual births at peak, across 35 years of records
Barb by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1960s was Barb's strongest decade.
2,140 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 56% of all-time use.
Barb births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1930s 6
1930s
6 births
- 1940s 201
1940s
201 births
- 1950s
1950s
1,460 births
- 1960s
1960s
2,140 births
- 1970s 46
1970s
46 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 2,140 births (56% of all-time use).
How Barb compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Barb's total volume
Barb vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Barb by state
Where Barb concentrates geographically, total births since 1938
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ohio | | 475 | 12.3% |
| #2 | Michigan | | 463 | 12.0% |
| #3 | Minnesota | | 452 | 11.7% |
| #4 | Illinois | | 358 | 9.3% |
| #5 | Wisconsin | | 319 | 8.3% |
| #6 | Pennsylvania | | 223 | 5.8% |
| #7 | Iowa | | 173 | 4.5% |
| #8 | Missouri | | 125 | 3.2% |
Ohio share of Barb's total US births 12.3%
Even split
475 of 3,853 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 19 reporting states.
Barb appears in 19 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Barb? ▼
3,853 babies have been named Barb since 1938. It was last recorded in 1972. The peak year was 1960 with 493 births.
When was Barb most popular? ▼
Barb was most popular in the 1960s decade with 2,140 total births. The single peak year was 1960.
Where is Barb most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Barb are Ohio (475 births), Michigan (463 births), Minnesota (452 births).
How long has the name Barb been used? ▼
Barb has been recorded in Social Security data since 1938, spanning 35 years of data through 1972.
What names are similar to Barb? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Barbara, Barbra, Barbie, Bari, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Barb's data
- Barb's decade-level peak was the 1960s (2,140 total births); usage has since declined to 46 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Ohio records the most Barbs (475 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Ohio names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Barb
Nearby Names Like Barb
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Barb
Barbara Girl
#852 1,436,695 births
Barbra Girl
7,758 births
Barbie Girl
#3138 4,204 births
Bari Girl
#12295 1,806 births
Barrie Girl
1,708 births
Compare Barb side by side: Barb vs Barbara Barb vs Barbra Barb vs Barbie
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1938–1972 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Barb: Baby Name Since 1938 - 3,853 Births, Peak 1960." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/barb. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Barb draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.