This is a list of people from or associated closely with Barbados. The list covers notable individuals who have garnered recognition in artistic, cultural, economic, historical, notorious, and political arenas.
Actors Earl Maynard (born 1935), actor, bodybuilder from Barbados. Redd Pepper (born 1961), voice actor born in Barbados.
Artists
Athletes
Robert Bailey (born 1968), American football player born in Barbados. Andrea Blackett (born 1976), Barbadian hurdler and coach. Emmerson Boyce (born 1979), Barbadian footballer and coach. Joel Garner (born 1952), cricketer born in Barbados. Gordon Greenidge (born 1951), cricketer born in St. Peter, Barbados. Ramon Harewood (born 1987) American football player born and raised in Barbados. Desmond Haynes (born 1956), cricketer born in Barbados. Hadan Holligan (born 1995), Barbadian footballer. Conrad Hunte (1932–1999), cricketer from Barbados. Darian King (born 1992), professional tennis player from Barbados. Zane Maloney (born 2003), racing driver from Barbados. Malcolm Marshall (1858–1999) cricketer from Barbados. Anton Norris (born 1940), high jumper and cricket player from Barbados. Kemar Roach (born 1988), cricketer born at St. Lucy, Barbados. Sam Seale (born 1962), American football player born in Barbados. Alana Shipp (born 1982), American/Israeli professional bodybuilder born in Barbados. Garfield Sobers (1936–2026), Barbadian cricketer and all rounder. Obadele Thompson (born 1976) Olympic athlete from Barbados. Clyde Walcott (1926–2006), cricketer from Barbados. Everton Weekes (1925–2020), cricketer from Barbados. Frank Worrell (1924–1967), cricketer from Barbados.
Educators Avinash Persaud (born 1966), professor and special envoy to the prime minister of Barbados.
Entrepreneurs Frank L. White (1867 - 1938), American chef born in Barbados.
Mariners Stede Bonnet (1688–1718), pirate and landowner born in Barbados. William T. Shorey (1859–1919), whaling ship captain born in Barbados.
Musicians
Vita Chambers (born 1993), Canadian singer raised in Barbados. Cover Drive – reggae group from Barbados. Doug E. Fresh (born 1966), rapper born in Barbados. Grynner (born 1946), calypso artist from Barbados. Alison Hinds (born 1970), soca singer raised in Barbados. Jackie Opel (1937–1970), singer from Barbados. Jaicko (born 1991), R&B/pop singer-songwriter from Barbados. Krosfyah, soca band from Barbados. Charles D. Lewis (born 1955), bassist, producer from Barbados. Hal Linton (born 1986), singer from Barbados. Livvi Franc (born 1988), singer from Barbados. Magnet Man, singer and musician from Barbados. Zeeteah Massiah (born 1956), singer born in Barbados. Mighty Gabby (born 1948), singer from Barbados. Rayvon (born 1968), American singer born in Barbados. Red Plastic Bag, calypsonian from Barbados. Rihanna (born 1988), singer from Barbados. RoRo, singer-songwriter born in Barbados. Shontelle (born 1985), pop, reggae, and R&B singer from Barbados. Square One (band), soca band from Barbados. Emile Straker (1936–2026), musician from Barbados. Arturo Tappin, saxophonist from Barbados. Joseph L. Walcott -immigrant from Barbados, founded Wally's Cafe Jazz Club in Boston.
Political leaders
Grantley Herbert Adams (1898–1971), premier of Barbados. Tom Adams (politician) (1931–1985), served as Prime Minister of Barbados. Owen Arthur (1949–2020), served as Prime Minister of Barbados. Errol Barrow (1920–1987), served as Prime Minister of Barbados. Nita Barrow (1916 - 1995), politician from Barbados. Courtney Blackman (1933 - 2021), served as ambassador from Barbados to the United States. Edna Ermyntrude Bourne – the first woman to be elected to the House of Assembly of Barbados. London Bourne (1793 - 1869), former Barbadian slave who became a merchant and abolitionist. Bussa, leader of a slave revolt, killed in Barbados in 1816. Esther Byer-Suckoo (born 1968), policiian from Barbados. Shirley Chisholm (1924 - 2005), United States Congresswoman raised in childhood in Barbados. Anne C. Cools (born 1943), Canadian senator born in Barbados. Hugh Gordon Cummins (1891 - 1970), politician from Barbados. Gertrude Eastmond (died 2024), the second woman to be elected to the House of Assembly of Barbados. Sarah Ann Gill (1795 - 1866), national hero of Barbados. Charles Wilton Wood Greenidge (1889 - 1972), organizational head in Barbados. Clifford Husbands (1926 -2017), politician from Barbados. Clyde Mascoll (born 1959), Barbadian government official. Billie Miller (born 1944), politician from Barbados. Richard B. Moore (1893 - 1978), Civil rights activist from Barbados. Mia Mottley (born 1965), 8th Prime Minister of Barbados. Charles O'Neale (1879 - 1936), National Hero of Barbados. Clement Payne (1904 - 1971), National Hero of Barbados. Samuel Jackman Prescod (1806 -1871), politician from Barbados. Lloyd Erskine Sandiford (1937 - 2023), former Barbadian prime minister. Arleigh Winston Scott (1900 - 1976), governor general of Barbados. David Simmons (judge) (born 1940), politician from Barbados. Hugh Springer (1913 -1994), politician from Barbados. David Thompson (1961 - 2010), former Barbadian prime minister. Elizabeth Thompson (born 1961) politician from Barbados. Frank Leslie Walcott (1916 - 1999), National Hero of Barbados. Deighton Lisle Ward (1909 -1984), governor general of Barbados. Nellie Weekes (1896–1990), Bajan nurse and women's rights activist. Maizie Barker-Welch (1927 - 2024), Barbados politician and women's rights activist. Althea Wiggins, politician from Barbados.
Scientists Shelly-Ann Cox (1988 - 2026), chief fisheries officer of Barbados. Alan Emtage (born 1964), Internet pioneer from Barbados. Ken R. Harewood, molecular biologist from Barbados.
Writers and intellectuals
Adisa Andwele, rhythm poet from Barbados. Hilary Beckles (born 1955), historian from Barbados.Curriculum vitae of Hilary Beckles – Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora. Retrieved 14 August 2026 Kamau Brathwaite (1930 - 2020), poet and academic from Barbados. Austin Clarke (1934 - 2016), author and poet born in Barbados. Tony Cozier (1940 - 2016), cricket writer and broadcaster from Barbados. Neville Goddard (1905 - 1972), mystic and author from Barbados. Abel Hendy Jones Greenidge (1865 - 1906), writer on history and law born in Barbados. Ted Harris, Sweden-based pastor, theologian and writer born in Barbados. Agymah Kamau, novelist from Barbados. Odimumba Kwamdela (1942 - 2019), poet and novelist born and raised in Barbados. George Lamming (1927 - 2022), author and poet born and raised in Barbados. Karen Lord (born 1968), writer of speculative fiction born in Barbados.Karen Lord biography at The Cooke Agency. . Glenville Lovell – author, playwright, dancer from Barbados.
Others Frederick Atkins (died 2005), convicted murderer, executed in Barbados.
See also
Barbados List of Eastern Caribbean people
References