An Essential Handbook to Barbie’s Inner Circle and Family

On March 9, 1959, Mattel introduced its inaugural Barbie doll at a New York toy fair, featuring blonde curls and a chic black-and-white strapless swimsuit. Over the years, fans discovered more about her background, such as her full name, Barbara Millicent Roberts—inspired by the daughter of Mattel founders Ruth and Elliot Handler—and her fictional hometown, Willows, Wisconsin. Her parents, George and Margaret, have never been produced as toys.

Initially marketed as a “Teen-Age Fashion Model,” Barbie has since embraced over 200 diverse careers, ranging from astronaut to presidential candidate and even mermaid (if that qualifies as a profession). Modern Barbie dolls now come in various body types, hair colors, ethnicities, and more, reflecting inclusivity. The tagline for Greta Gerwig’s live-action film Barbie, releasing on July 21, 2023, perfectly captures this: “She’s everything.”

The film’s cast embodies this diversity, with actors portraying multiple versions of Barbie. Margot Robbie stars as the classic doll, Dua Lipa as mermaid Barbie, Issa Rae as presidential Barbie, Hari Nef as doctor Barbie, Ana Cruz Kayne as judge Barbie, and many more.

Not every doll in Mattel’s Barbie universe is a Barbie herself. Alongside her boyfriend Ken, she has a wide array of siblings and friends who have appeared and disappeared from store shelves over the decades. Here are 15 key characters worth knowing.

1. Ken

Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken Carson, debuted in 1961, named after the Handlers’ son, Ken. According to the Barbie media site, Ken once said, “Barbie and I met in 1961 on the set of our first TV commercial. It was love at first sight.” While Ken has often been overshadowed by his famous girlfriend, he’s managed to grab the spotlight a few times.

In the early 1990s, Mattel surveyed young girls to see if Barbie needed a new love interest. “They wanted Barbie to stay with Ken but thought he needed a cooler look,” explained Mattel spokesperson Lisa McKendall to journalist Dan Savage. In 1993, the updated Ken arrived: Earring Magic Ken, matching Earring Magic Barbie, sported an earring, black jeans, and a purple pleather vest over a mesh crop-top. His necklace featured a large silver ring that resembled a popular adult toy among gay men.

McKendall insisted the design reflected what young girls saw their male relatives wearing, denying any intentional adult connotations. However, Savage contended that Earring Magic Ken was a clear nod to queer culture. He wrote that the doll represented either the infiltration of queer culture into mainstream media or its appropriation by heterosexuals. Despite becoming the best-selling Ken doll at the time, largely due to its popularity among gay men, the controversy over the doll’s accessories led Mattel to pull it from shelves.

Barbie and Ken remained a couple until Valentine’s Day 2004, when Mattel’s marketing VP, Russell Arons, announced their decision to take a break. Barbie briefly dated an Australian surfer named Blaine, but Ken eventually won her back in 2011 with grand romantic gestures, including personalized cupcakes and public declarations of love.

2. Midge

Midge Hadley, Barbie’s best friend, was introduced in 1963. With her freckles and wide eyes, Midge shared Barbie’s proportions, allowing them to swap outfits. Though not always available, Midge’s returns have been notable [PDF]. In 1991, “Wedding Day Midge” married Alan Sherwood, Ken’s best friend, with Barbie and Ken as part of the wedding party.

Midge and Alan were later featured in the “Happy Family” collection, which included children and grandparents. A 2002 product, “Midge and Baby,” showcased a pregnant Midge with a detachable belly housing a removable baby. Mattel believed the dolls would serve as a useful tool for parents to help children understand family dynamics, particularly when expecting a new sibling. However, not everyone shared this perspective.

“Teen pregnancy is already a significant issue. This doll seems to glamorize it, and it’s unacceptable,” said 43-year-old Jackie Ellis from Philadelphia in an interview with the Associated Press.

Despite the context—Midge was portrayed as a married adult with a 3-year-old child—some consumers interpreted the dolls as encouraging teen pregnancy. Following numerous complaints, Walmart removed not only “Midge and Baby” but also another “Happy Family” set featuring Alan, toddler Ryan, and pregnant Midge. This reaction highlighted discomfort with the idea of a pregnant doll, even in a traditional family setting.

Midge made a notable return in 2012, appearing in the web series Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse. This time, her storyline focused on a makeover and her pursuit of a romantic interest, Ryan, without any mention of a husband or children.

3. Allan

Allan entered the Barbie universe in 1964 as Midge’s boyfriend and Ken’s best friend. Similar to Midge and Barbie, Allan and Ken could swap outfits. The character was named after Allan Segal, the husband of the Handlers’ daughter, Barbara. Allan disappeared in the mid-’60s and returned in 1991 with a slight name change to “Alan.” (The reason for this remains unclear, though it’s worth noting that Allan and Barbara Segal had divorced by then.)

4. Skipper

Skipper, Barbie’s younger sister, debuted alongside Allan in 1964, wearing a red and white swimsuit that matched Barbie’s iconic black and white one. Over the years, Skipper has seen numerous updates, including the 1975 “Growing Up Skipper,” which grew taller and developed breasts when her arm was twisted.

The commercial for the doll highlighted its unique feature: transforming from a child to a teenager instantly. Today, Skipper is often depicted as a tech-savvy teen with a distinctive purple streak in her dark brown hair.

5. and 6. Tutti and Todd

In 1965, Barbie’s family expanded with the introduction of twins Tutti and Todd, who were younger than Skipper and featured bendable limbs. Both characters are no longer part of Mattel’s active lineup. Todd’s most recent appearances were without Tutti: he served as the ring bearer at Midge and Alan’s wedding alongside flower girl Kelly, and he dressed as Michael Banks in a 2008 Mary Poppins set.

7. Stacie

Whether Tutti was discontinued or simply renamed remains unclear. If she still exists, she’s likely Stacie—not Kelly. In 1992, Mattel introduced Stacie as Barbie and Skipper’s younger sister. Todd’s pairing with Stacie in 2008, seemingly as twins, suggests Tutti may have briefly been called Kelly before the name Stacie was adopted.

Today’s version of Stacie, a sporty blonde preteen or young teen featured in Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures and related media, no longer has a twin brother, making the earlier naming debate largely irrelevant.

8. Chelsea (née Kelly)

After Stacie’s introduction, the name Kelly found new life. In the mid-1990s, Mattel launched Barbie’s “baby sister,” Kelly, a blonde toddler who slept in a crib and attended nursery school. While the character still exists, she’s now slightly older and goes by “Chelsea.” A 2022 Gawker deep dive revealed that Kelly was known as “Shelly” internationally due to trademark issues, prompting Mattel to unify her name as “Chelsea” globally. In Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures, Chelsea is portrayed as a mischievous 6-year-old with pigtails and a vivid imagination.

9. Krissy

In the late ’90s, Barbie gained another sister: Krissy, a baby doll that Barbie could push in a stroller and rock to sleep. Krissy’s time in the spotlight was short-lived, ending in the early 2000s, and she doesn’t appear in current Barbie media.

10. Francie

In 1966, Mattel introduced Francie, Barbie’s “MOD’ern cousin,” who, according to a New Jersey reporter, made Barbie and Midge seem outdated. Francie’s style included flipped hair, rooted eyelashes, and trendy British outfits like patterned stockings and white go-go boots. She remained fashionable until her discontinuation in 1976. In 1967, Mattel made history by releasing a Black version of Francie, the brand’s first doll of color.

11. P.J.

During Midge’s absence from the late ’60s to the early ’80s, P.J. stepped in as Barbie’s best friend. (Early versions of P.J. even used Midge’s head mold.) She joined the Malibu series in the early ’70s and later became an Olympic gymnast in 1975, alongside Barbie. P.J. made her final appearance in 1984, and Midge returned as Barbie’s best friend in the 1988 “California Dream” collection [PDF].

12. Christie

In 1980, Mattel introduced its first Black doll named “Barbie,” marking a shift toward offering both Black and white versions of new dolls. Before this, Black dolls in Barbie’s world were distinct characters (except for Francie). Christie, a standout from Mattel’s 1968 line of talking dolls, was one of the first. She spoke phrases like “Should I change my hairstyle?” and “I’d like to be a fashion model,” and later began dating Brad, Ken’s first Black friend. (Brad, also a talking doll, famously said, “Christie is the greatest!”)

Christie remained a key part of Barbie’s world for decades, even joining her girl band, Beyond Pink, which released a 10-track pop album in 1998. Hits included “Think Pink,” “You Are the Universe,” and “The Girl of Today.”

13. Nikki

Nikki, another Black doll, debuted in Mattel’s 1997 Teen Skipper line [PDF]. Initially portrayed as one of Skipper’s friends, some speculated she might be Christie’s younger sister. However, in recent Barbie media, Nikki has been reimagined as one of Barbie’s closest friends, while Christie has faded from the spotlight, suggesting the two characters may have merged.

In the 2015 film Barbie & Her Sisters in the Great Puppy Adventure, Barbie’s childhood friend was named Christie, hinting that Christie and Nikki might be separate characters. Alternatively, Skipper’s Nikki may no longer exist. (Mattel has a history of reusing names: Midge’s daughter and an ’80s “Animal Lovin’” doll were both named Nikki.) In Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures, Nikki is the “fashionista friend” with a flair for creative ventures.

14. Teresa

Teresa, Barbie’s first Latina friend, was introduced in 1988 through the “California Dream” and “Island Fun” collections [PDF]. She quickly became one of Barbie’s closest companions and remains so today. Beyond her role in the band Beyond Pink, Teresa has appeared in numerous media, including the 1999 book Barbie High Sea Adventure and the 2008 film Barbie and the Diamond Castle. In Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures, Teresa is a bilingual STEM enthusiast and a “technical taskmaster.”

15. Kira

Kira, an Asian American doll, debuted in the 1990 “Wet N’ Wild” collection and became a staple of the ’90s alongside Christie and Teresa. She excelled in rollerblading, played in both the WNBA and the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and frequently enjoyed beach outings [PDF]. Additionally, she joined Barbie on a crucial space mission in the 1998 book Barbie Shooting for the Stars.