[2][3] The extension of Line 4 south from Mairie de Montrouge received déclaration d'utilité publique in February 2005.

Following a public vote, the station was named after French singer Barbara, who was buried in the nearby Cimetière parisien de Bagneux.

[8][7] The cost of the extension was 406 million euro, split between Ile-de-France Region (60%), the state (25.7%), and the department of Hauts-de-Seine, in which Barbara is located (14.3%).

[9] An apartment building for young workers was built by RATP Habitat above the station entrance at Avenue Marx Dormoy, and was completed in February 2023.

[11] The design uses white corrugated metal panels on the walls and vaulted ceiling, as well as large circular light fittings – a similar concept was also used at Aimé Césaire and Mairie d'Aubervilliers stations on line 12.