cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/1847272
Barbara Oppenheimer - a retired Boston University professor and grandmother of five based in Newton, Massachusetts - has had quite the summer amid this year’s “Barbenheimer” frenzy.
In an interview with Slate, Oppenheimer revealed that numerous people thought she was joking when she would say her name outloud. The retiree recalled a specifically confusing moment during a recent vacation, saying: “When I checked in at the hotel, I said, ‘Barbie Oppenheimer!’ The guy said, ‘Are you pulling my leg?’”
… is Barbie an actual name in the US?
(Like I’ve never met a Beau or Hunter in Canada, I think y’all have different names.)
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Barbie’s name is Barbara too. Ruth Handler, the inventor of Barbie named the doll after her daughter, Barbara.
I’m not from the US either so I can’t speak to how common a name it is. But Barbie is a diminutive of Barbara (and the dolls were actually named after the creator’s daughter, Barbara Handler). Barbara isn’t a particularly common name nowadays, so I doubt there are that many Barbies around. And it’s probably less common because of how strong the association of the name Barbie is with the brand these days, too.
But it is a real name.
Barbara is a relatively common name in the US. I’ve known at least 5 across various parts of the US and I have definitely met more. Most of them are in their 40s-60s so it seems to have died out in popularity. Although none of them have ever gone by “Barbie” as a nickname. All went by “Barb”. Unfortunately the doll has ruined that nickname for most.
“Barbra” is often shortened to Barb, or Barbie, or Babs.
I believe she said her name was “Brabra.”
And she was looking at me
I have an Aunt Barbie, and my cousin’s son is Hunter
Hah I grew up in small town Canada and I’ve definitely known a few Beaus and a few Hunters
I have a cousin named Barbara who goes by Barbie.
Hunter was a common baby name in at least one Canadian province from 2013 to 2017, ranking as high as #9. Beau was the #16 boy name in that province just last year. Go to this page and search for Beau.
I’ve known two different Barbie’s in my life and I am also Canadian.
Yeah in the UK no one would every go by “Barbie” (even Barbara is super uncommon) and if you told them your name is Barbie that would just assume you are named after the doll.