The BarbieCore Aesthetic Is Real: These Barbie Baby Names Prove That Life in Plastic Is Fantastic

Barbie was an icon of the ’80s and ’90s, and she’s making a serious comeback in the world of fashion and aesthetics. The “BarbieCore” trend is sweeping the internet, and it’s not hard to see why. With its playful and bold pastel colors, plastic accessories, and ’90s-inspired fashion, BarbieCore is all about embracing your inner child and living life to the fullest. And what better way to celebrate this trend than by choosing a baby name for your little girl or boy that reflects this unique and stylish aesthetic?

In this post, we’ll be exploring the world of Barbie baby names for girls and boys, showcasing the best names that embrace the BarbieCore style. Whether you’re a nostalgia lover or simply drawn to the playful and whimsical charm of Barbie, read on to discover the perfect name for your little one.

Barbie

Barbie is a diminutive short form of Barbara, a name originating Latin, meaning “foreigner.” Barbara was once a top 10 name in the US but it has dramatically fallen from favor over the past couple of decades. Barbie was once mildly popular in the 1960s.

Skipper

Skipper is Barbie’s little sister and best friend. The name works well for both girls and boys. It originated in English as a term for a “captain.” It has never been a popular given name in the US.

Millicent

Many people don’t know that Barbie’s middle name is Millicent. The name was once popular but it tanked in the 1960s and has yet to return to popularity. We love the nickname Millie and it would totally be the reason for us to choose this name. Millicent is a name of German origin, meaning “strong worker.”

Chelsea

Chelsea names another one of Barbie’s sisters. Chelsea was a really popular choice for girls born in the 1980s and 1990s but it has been on the downward trend since then. Chelsea is a place name in both New York City and London. The name means “chalk” and “landing place.”

Teresa

Teresa is Barbie’s best friend and she has a classic and sophisticated name. It was a top 500 name in the US from 1880 (when baby name data was first recorded) to 2005. This gorgeous appellation is of Spanish origin and means “to harvest.”

Mae

Okay, so there isn’t a Barbie character named Mae but we feel that the name fits as it has a vintage, Old Hollywood-style charm. Mae is considered a diminutive form Mary or Margaret and means “beloved” or “bitter.” The name has been on the rise again since 2010.

Ken

We’re back in Barbie world with the name Ken which is a diminutive form of the Scottish name Kenneth, meaning “born of fire” and “handsome.” Barbie’s beau is always happily by her side no matter what goals she tries to pursue.

Peggy

Also a vintage name that’s been shortened, Peggy could fit the bubblegum aesthetic well. Somehow Peggy is short for Margaret, a name of Greek origin, meaning “pearl.” As a given name, Peggy was a huge mid-century hit but it fell from fashion by the late 1980s. Let’s bring her back.

Maggie

If Peggy rubs you the wrong way, another nickname name for Margaret is the warm Maggie. Today, Maggie is a pretty popular given name, ranking in the top 300.

Suzie

Suzie is a short form of Susan or Susanna. The name originated in Hebrew and means “lily.” It was last popular as a given name in the US in the 1960s.

Lucy

We love Lucy! Lucy is currently one of the most popular baby names in the US. It is tracking to be more popular than ever before this year. You could always go with Lucille but we think the express nature of Lucy is best. The name is English from Latin and means “light.”

Lottie

Lottie is another one of the nickname names that has vintage flare. It was last in the US top 1000 names in 1958! It is a short form of Charlotte and means “free man” or “Frenchman.”

Tillie

Similar to Lottie, Tillie fizzled out as a popular given name in the middle of the last century. Tillie is a short form of Matilda, meaning “mighty in battle.” To us, Tillie is a name that’s so out of fashion that it can be considered a unique and inspired choice today.

Kit

Kit is one of the most accessible and sweet names. It feels like a cousin to Ken. Kit is a unisex English nickname that is a short form of Katherine or Christopher. Kit was once popular for baby boys in the US but that has not been the case since the 1960s. For a girl, this name means “pure.” For a boy, it means “bearer of Christ.”

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Bea

Like Mae, Bea is short and sweet and totally BarbieCore. It’s got a retro tinge to it that really appeals to us. Bea is often considered a short form of Beatrice, a name derived from Latin and meaning “bringer of happiness.”

Stacie

We’re back in Barbie wold with the name Stacie which belongs to one of Barbie’s sisters. It was last popular as a given name in the 1990s. The name is considered a short form of Anastasia, a name with a Greek root that means “resurrection.”

Tommy

Tommy is Ken’s younger brother and was introduced in 1997. Tommy is an established name for boys but we think it has potential for a baby girl as well. Tommy is a short form of Thomas, a name of Aramaic origin, meaning “twin.” Tommy was a huge hit in the 1940s and 1950s and it is still in the top 1000 today.

Alfie

Alfie really feels like a name for an old man, but it’s red-hot in the UK today. Alfie is technically unisex because it is short for both Alfred and Alfreda. Both names share a German root that means “elf power” or “wise counselor.”

Richie

Richie is an adorable nickname for Richard that was last popular in the US in the 1970s. We like it way more than Dick, Dicky, or Ricky. Richard is a name of German origin, meaning “dominant ruler.”

Nikki

Nikki was introduced in 2006 as another one of Barbie’s friends. Technically, Nikki is a unisex name as it is short for both Nicole and Nicholas. It means “people of victory.” As a given name Nikki for girls in 1972 as the 173 most popular name for girls.

Midge

Midge was introduced to Barbie fans in the 1960s around the same time as Skipper. Midge is one of Barbie’s pals and she has a family with three kids and a husband named Alan. Midge is a short form of Margaret and it has never been wildly popular in the US. You could help change that!

Alan

Alan, Midge’s husband, has one of the most popular names on this list. The name is derived from Irish and means “handsome” and “cheerful.”

Francie

Francie was introduced by Mattel in the 1960s and was marketed as Barbie’s modern (mod) cousin. Sadly, Francie has never been a popular given name in the US. It is a name of English origin, from French, meaning “free man” or “Frenchman.”

Raquelle

Raquelle is a Barbie character that was introduced with the Fashion Fever line. Raquelle has never been a favored option in the US but its cousin Rachel sure has. Raquelle is simply different form of the name and shares the same Hebrew root that means “ewe.” Raquelle has a twin brother named Ryan.

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Ryan

Raquelle’s twin, Ryan, has a unisex name that means “little king.” The name originated in Irish and is popular there and around the world today. The name used for both boys and girls but slightly more often for boys. It’s in the top 500 for girls and 100 for boys.

We hope this guide to Barbie baby names has provided you with plenty of inspiration for your little girl’s name. The BarbieCore trend is all about having fun and embracing the bold and playful aesthetic, and these names are the perfect way to embrace that vibe. Congratulations on your upcoming arrival, and remember, life in plastic truly is fantastic when you have the perfect name to go with it!