16 of the Most Popular Barbie Dolls of All Time

The first Barbie doll ever appeared on March 9, 1959, at a toy fair in New York City. She was 11 inches tall, had blonde hair tied in a ponytail, and wore a bathing suit in black and white stripes. (A brunette version was released later that year.) The original Barbie was also the most popular of the decade, according to Mattel.

The first Barbie Dreamhouse was such a big deal that it may have inspired many girls to pursue a career in architecture. It first came out in 1962 and was made of a simple cardboard rectangle — a studio for a Barbie living alone. It came with cardboard furniture that can be moved around and with plastic hangers in the closet. You can still buy a reproduction of the original Barbie Dreamhouse.

Both Barbie and Ken were released as astronauts in 1965, reflecting the enthusiasm in the U.S. around the space program. Mattel was on the right track. Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon four years later. A woman had already been in space though — Russian astronaut Valentina Tereshkova in 1963. Mattel reproduced the original doll astronauts in 2010.

Collectors call the Turn N Twist Barbie TNT. She was the first of what later became known as the Mod Barbie Era from 1967 to 1973. The doll looks a little different because she has rooted eyelashes, long straight hair, bendable legs, and her waist can be turned, hence the name. The Twist N Turn Barbie was the most popular in the 1960s, according to Mattel.

The first talking Barbie had a string at the back of her neck that had to be pulled. She had rooted eyelashes, Barbie’s iconic ponytail but twisted and turned to the side, and new hands — the fingers were divided. This was the first model with separated fingers.

The Malibu doll permanently sealed Barbie’s reputation as the quintessential California girl who loves the sun and the beach. She appears in an aqua blue bathing suit, carrying a yellow towel and sunglasses. The original commercial about her at the time describes her as a girl having a cool, fun-loving West Coast attitude. The Malibu Barbie was the most popular of the 1970s, according to Mattel.

The Quick Curl Barbie had a new feature — her hair could be quickly curled. The doll has miniscule wires running through its hair, allowing it to be curled easily. And the hair could go in any direction. Imagine the hairdos some children must have come up with.

Barbie’s signature Townhouse was an update of the doll’s Dreamhouse from the 1960s. The Townhouse’s furniture and features were actually printed on the wall. The house has three floors, six rooms, and even an elevator. More modern versions have actual furniture like a bed, table, chairs, and even a bathtub.

There were other African-American dolls in the doll’s family, but this was the first black Barbie. She was part of the “My Favorite Barbie Doll” collection. The doll has a short Afro hairdo. A 2009 reproduction of the Barbie later featured a pantsuit ensemble.

The Flight Time Barbie in 1989 came with a pink suit that transformed into a glamorous party outfit. And children playing with her could change her hair in any style they wanted. Today, the Pilot Barbie comes in a blue pantsuit, wearing a tie and a blue pilot hat.

Barbie has been a presidential candidate a total of six times, with her first attempt to win the White House beginning in 1992. No woman in real life had run for president by then. In 2016, she ran on the first all-female ticket. Maybe soon we’ll have a Barbie president.

Police officer by day, party girl at night. Barbie Police Officer comes with two outfits: a full uniform, which includes navy blue shirt, long pants, hat, a tie, and even a buckle, and the other an elegant white polka dot skirt and a golden top. This doll is part of the career girl collection.

Barbie is coming to the rescue. Firefighter Barbie, wearing yellow firefighter coat and pants, is also part of the career collection and even comes with a first aid kit. An updated version has Barbie wearing a red firefighter coat, black pants, boots, and a red firefighter hat with a “B” emblem. A new version was released for Barbie’s 60th anniversary.

This Barbie is a sign language teacher who wants to inspire children to learn new languages. Unlike other dolls, this version has Barbie’s fingers molded into the sign that means “I love you.” The package also includes other common words and their signs in American Sign Language.

The Barbie Fashionista line is among the most diverse in the doll’s history. It includes 40 dolls, seven body types, 11 skin tones, and 28 hairstyles. There are even 15 Ken dolls, one of which has a man bun, and another has freckles. The Fashionistas line was the most popular in the 2010s, according to Mattel.

The Computer Engineer Barbie was a popular doll, but it went down in history as one of the most controversial ones, too. She was the first doll of the Career of the Year program, and computer engineer was selected by the public. The packaging originally included a book called “Barbie: I Can Be A Computer Engineer.” But it also stated that Barbie will not be able to finish the product she’s working on as an engineer and get rid of a virus unless she asks for the boys’ help. The book was eventually discontinued.

Barbie’s marking her diamond anniversary in 2019 with a glamorous red carpet look of hew gown that twinkles with silvery sparkles. As for hair style — she goes back to her origins. Her iconic ponytail has an elegant twist. The red lipstick is also a nostalgic detail, paying homage to the original doll, whose signature feature were the red lips is high ponytail.