The Barbara Page Header

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Dedicated to "Barbara"s Everywhere

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A Special Birthday Tribute to Barbara Lorraine
Your sister told me about you and shared some of your life with me.
In your honor I have made a special birthday tribute page for you.
Have a great day!
Pink Star Happy Birthday, Barbara Lorraine! Pink Star

Welcome! My name is Barbara. I was inspired to create this page after discovering a "Naomi" name page while surfing the web. She had links to other "name" pages but none for the name "Barbara," so I made this one.

The name "Barbara" is of Greek and Latin origin, basically meaning "foreign woman." It was a common name in Scotland. The Gaelic form is "Barabell" (BA-ra-bul). The Scots-Gaelic form is "Barabal." The Irish -Gaelic form is "Báirbre" (BAR-bruh) and the pet form "Baibín" (BAB-een). I found some information on this web page.

When I was a young girl in the fifties and sixties, I didn't like my name very much. I'm not really sure why, but for a long time I wished my name was something like Amy or Athena. It might have had to do with the fact that all the baby name books I ever read said that the name "Barbara" means "stranger" or "foreigner" and even "barbarian!" That used to bother me. I thought maybe that meant "I" was strange... (SMILE) I even read on a webpage somewhere that the name "Barbara" makes us too "sensitive" and "misunderstood;" which is just too hard to live with; so we should change our name to something else! Seriously! But eventually I grew up, and now I really like my name.

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Pink Star Variations on a Name Pink Star

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I have been called or have heard of or seen other Barbaras
called or referred to by these variations. Are there any more?

Barbra Barb Barbi Barbie Bar-bear-a
Bab Baba Babara Barbarella Barbarita
Babb Babbett Babbette Babbie Babe
Babett Babette Babita Baibin Barbey
Barbro Barby Barra Basha Baubie
Bauby Beba Berbera Berberia Berberya
Berbya Bobbe Bobbee Bobby
BerBer Bobwah BarfbraBaba
Babs Babsi Babsy Bobbie Bobbi
Bobi Bar Bar-Bar-a Barbie-Q Barbora
BardineBárbaraBarbyBarberella Babschi
BonniBonnieBonnyVarina Bizarrbra
Varvara
(French)
BarborkaVara
(French)
Borbalya
(Hungarian)
Borbala
Hungarian
Bärbel
(Austrian)
Basia
(Polish)
Pronounced
"Basha"
Barbo
(German)
Barbe
(German)
Barbro
(Swedish)

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Pink Star Barbie® Pink Star

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In 1959 Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, and her husband Elliot Handler, created an adult-figure female doll which she named Barbie®, after their daughter, Barbara. Barbie®'s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. Now even fashion designers such as Christian Dior and Bob Mackey design clothes for Barbie®, which is currently one of the hottest collectible dolls on the market. The Ken® doll, Barbie®'s "perfect" boyfriend, was named after the Handler's son. I never had a Barbie® doll, but I did have her friends Midge® and Alan®. I more than made up for that lack of having a Barbie® in the 1980's, after I had a daughter. We have a lot of Barbie® dolls around here now! (SMILE)

(Barbie® is a registered trademark of the Mattel Toy Company)

Barbie® Through the Years Pic
Through
the Years
The First Barbie® 1959 Pic Barbie® 1960 Pic Barbie® 1961 Pic
195919601961
Bubble Cut Barbie® 1961 Pic Barbie® 1966 Pic Barbie® 1967 Pic Barbie® 1970 Pic
1962196619671970
Hair Happenin's Barbie® 1971 Pic Barbie® 1980 Pic 40th Anniversary Barbie® 1999 Pic Delphine Barbie® 2000 Pic
1971198019992000
Barbie® 2002 Pic
2002

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Pink Star Songs About Barbaras Pink Star

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"BARBARA ANN"

"(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann),
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann),
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Oh Barbara Ann, (Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Come take my hand, (Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Barbara Ann, (Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
You got me rockin' and a rollin', Rockin' and a reelin'
Barbara Ann, (Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)..."

Pink Star You can see all the lyrics and listen to the tune HERE

Beach Boys Pic

On the radio the Beach Boys sang "Barbara Ann." I was always curious
if there really was a Barbara Ann and if there was, where is she now???

Guess what?? There really was a Barbara Ann!!

"This song was actually written for the sister of the composer, Fred Fassert.
I once had an email from the son of Fred Fassert about it. I asked him
what he could tell me and this is what he said :

"Fred Fassert is my dad, Barbara Ann is his baby sister he wrote the song
for her when he was 23. It is amazing that 39 years later people still listen
to this song - my father is always amazed." ~~Michael Fassert - Nov. 5, 2000

"Two Top 20's for "Barbara Ann" in the 60's, written for the sister
(actually Barbara-Ann) of the composer Fred Fassert, a member
of The Regents, who took it to #13 in 1961.
In 1966 the Beach Boys caught a wave and rode it all the way to #2."

Pink Star Click on an album to listen to samples of the
various versions of "Barbara Ann" below.

The Regents Pic Pink Star

Hear what Beach Boy
Brian Wilson had to
say about "Barbara Ann."
(Requires Real Audio.)

The Beach Boys Pic
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Hear another version
of "Barbara Ann"
HERE, sung by
The Fabulous
FOURMEL'DYHIDES
.
(Requires Real Audio.)

American Graffiti Pic Pink Star

"Barbara Ann" sung
by "The Regents"
was one of many hit songs
used in the movie
"American Graffiti"
in 1973.

Jan & Dean  Pic Pink Star

The WHO
recorded "Barbara Ann"
for a film,
"The Kids Are Alright,"
in 1979.

The Who Pic



"BARBARA"

A Barbara surfing my pages sent me a song file named simply "Barbara," that was sung by "The Temptations" in 1959-1960. I do not remember ever hearing it before, but it is a beautiful sweet little song.

A reader who saw this information on my page wrote to let me know that according to the "Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits" this "Temptations" group is listed as a "white teenage quartet from Long Island, New York." The song peaked at #29 in May of 1960.

So, it was not sung by the "Motown" Temptations, as I originally thought.
Sorry about that... (SMILE)

Pink Star You can see the lyrics HERE

Pink StarYou can listen to "Barbara" below. (Thanks, Barbara, Bill and Mario!)

Barbara wav



"BARBARA"

There is a French poem performed by Yves Montand called "Barbara." It was written by Jacques Prevert.
I have NOW heard this song! A kind person in Alsace emailed me a copy of it and although
I do not understand the language, I can feel the depth of emotion in this poem. (SMILE)

Several people have written me about this poem, and three have sent me their own translations, since I don't read or speak French. (SMILE)
It is a moving poem, very emotional; dealing with a time of war.

Pink Star You can read the poem HERE. (If you can read French)

Pink Star You can read a translation and notes that were sent to me HERE.

Pink Star You can read another translation that was sent to me HERE.

Pink Star And read this translation that was also sent to me HERE.


Yves Montand Pic


"BARBARA ALLEN"

Probably the best known of the American Kentucky ballads is "Barbara Allen."
After a misunderstanding, Barbara Allen's lover dies and then she dies from grief.

Pink Star You can see the lyrics and part of the sheet music HERE

Pink Star Listen to a small sample of the melody played on an Ocarina HERE.

Pink Star Listen to the entire song played on an Ocarina HERE.

Pink Star You can hear another sample of the song HERE.

Pink Star There is another version of Barbara Allen HERE.


You can search on Song Search to see more artists and songs named "Barbara."

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Pink Star Do you remember these Barbaras? Pink Star

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Growing up, television was my main source of entertainment. That
was where I first realized that there were LOTS of "Barbara"s. Not
only actresses named "Barbara," but characters named "Barbara."

Barbara Bain Pic Barbara Eden as Jeannie Pic Barbara Feldon Pic Barbara Billingsley Pic
BainEdenFeldonBillingsley

Who could forget Barbara Bain as "Cinnamon Carter,"
Barbara Eden as "Jeannie,"
Barbara Feldon as Control Agent "99," or
Barbara Billingsley as the "Beaver"'s mom, "Mrs. Cleaver ?"

How about these characters named Barbara?

  • Barbara in George Romero's "Night of the Living Dead" played by Judith O'Dea; Barbara, according to the novel, is a young girl from Pittsburgh. Her aged mother and her cantakerous brother Johnny are her only immediate family, her father having passed away several years ago. Easily frightened, Barbara reacts badly to stressful situations. Johnny apparently takes great pleasure in scaring Barbara and it doesn't help when zombies show up. (This movie was remade in 1990; a 30th anniversary remaster of the original with additional footage and new soundtrack was released in 1999; neither compares to the original)
  • Barbara Corvin is the wife of a retired aging test pilot in the movie "Space Cowboys" (2000). She is played by a real "Barbara;" Barbara Babcock.
  • Barbara Gordon mild-mannered librarian in Gotham City, also known as Batgirl on the Batman TV series played by Yvonne Craig, cartoon series in comic books and more currently in the Batman and Robin movie with a name and history change to Barbara Wilson played by Alicia Silverstone.
  • Major Barbara 1941 movie based on George Bernard Shaw's 1905 comic play about a wealthy girl, Barbara Undershaft played by Wendy Hiller, who becomes a zealous member of the Salvation Army.

Barbara from Night of the Living Dead Pic Barbara Corvin from Space Cowboys Pic Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl Pic Major Barbara Undershaft Pic
Barbara in
Night of the
Living Dead
Barbara Corvin
in Space Cowboys
2000
Barbara Gordon
(Barbara Wilson)
aka Batgirl
Barbara Undershaft
aka
Major Barbara

There was also a little film called "kinkiest film of the year" by Penthouse Magazine - one I have yet to see, "Barbarella." I don't consider her a true "Barbara," but someone sent me email about her so I will add her (SMILE).

Barbarella, Queen of the Galaxy Pic
Barbarella, Queen of the Galaxy

A search on the Internet Movie Database found 1469 female characters in movies and television shows named "Barbara."

Who is your favorite character named "Barbara?" Send me Email and I will add it to this list. (SMILE)

There are many more famous "Barbara"s, some you will recognize and probably some you won't. To learn about them, visit the links below :

Is your favorite Barbara on TV this month?? Find out HERE.

Pink Star Read some "Barbara" biographies at Biography.Com

Barbara Babcock Pic Barbara Hale Pic Barbara Stanwyck Pic Barbara Baldavin Pic BarBara Luna Pic
BabcockHaleStanwyckBaldavinLuna

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Pink Star Did you know? Pink Star

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The United States Census Bureau compiled data on the names in a sample search area of the 1990 census. Out of those 6.3 million records, females totalled 3.2 million. Of the 4,275 female names counted in the sample, "Barbara" is listed as the 4th most common. You can see the entire list here.

A search of the United States Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System, or (USGS GNIS) finds 49 places with the name "Barbara." Their list includes creeks, lakes, points, springs, wells, churches, schools, mines and gardens. They list 29 places with the name "Saint Barbara", mostly churches, cemeteries and schools. They also list 80 places with the name "Santa Barbara".

On the eve of December 4, 1602, just after weathering a severe storm, three frigates under the command of Sebastian Vizcaino entered a channel off the California coast. Thankful to God for answering their prayers to guide the ships through the storm, one of the Carmelite friars on board named the bay and nearby shore after Saint Barbara, whose commemorative feast had occurred the same day. In 1782, the Spaniards came to the Channel Islands area to stay. With plans to establish a military presidio and mission, a group led by Father Junipero Serra, Captain Jose Ortega, and Governor Felipe de Neve founded the City of Santa Barbara.
Read the history of the Santa Barbara Mission, and even more history HERE.

The United States Navy has a ship named the U.S.N.S. Santa Barbara. It was decommissioned from its job as ammunition ship in 1998 and is now part of the Military Sealift Command.

U.S.N.S. Santa Barbara Pic
U.S.N.S. Santa Barbara

The Order of Saint Barbara is an honorary military society of the United States Field Artillery. Both U.S. Marine and Army field artillery along with their military and civilian supporters are eligible for membership. The order links field artillerymen of the past and present in a brotherhood of professionalism, selfless service and sacrifice symbolized by Saint Barbara.

Mission Santa Barbara Pic Saint Barbara Pic
Mission Santa BarbaraSaint Barbara

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Pink Star More Barbaras on the Web Pink Star

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Pink Star Check out my links to some Barbaras on the web HERE.

If you are a Barbara and would like your web page linked
on this page please E mail me at the address below.

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Pink Star More About Me Pink Star

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Pink Star My favorite Barbara quote,
"They're coming to get you, Barbara!"

(from George Romero "Night of the Living Dead", 1968.)

Pink Star See the movie scene HERE.
(Requires Real Audio.)

*SOAKBear* Pic My Pic
*SOAKBear*
my alter-ego
Me, your
hostess,
Barbara

Pink Star To find out more than you probably ever want to know
about me, check out my family homepage HERE

Any questions? comments? suggestions? Links that don't work?
Please let me know! I can be reached by E mail below.

Neon Aqua Star Mail Box Pic Neon Aqua Star

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Pink Star Thank you for visiting my Barbara page! Pink Star

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"The Barbara Page" was created 20 September 1997,
and is continually under construction.
It was last updated 21 May 2006 © Barbara Logan.
URL is http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/6575/barbara.htm
OR
http://www.geocities.com/soakbear/barbara.htm
AND MIRRORED AT
http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~soakbear/barbara/barbara.htm

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