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?’”

  • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    … 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.)

      • SokathHisEyesOpen@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        Barbie’s name is Barbara too. Ruth Handler, the inventor of Barbie named the doll after her daughter, Barbara.

    • loobkoob@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      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.

      • AppaYipYip@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        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.

    • NotSteve_@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      Hah I grew up in small town Canada and I’ve definitely known a few Beaus and a few Hunters

    • SkaterBoi@lemmings.world
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      1 year ago

      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.

    • gmtom@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      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.