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?’”
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.