Barbie vs NECA:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Barbie had more branded searches than NECA among action figure brands worldwide. Barbie was estimated to have 1.8M branded searches compared to NECA’s 90.5K, and held a 59.2% Share of Search versus NECA’s 2.9%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Barbie or NECA?
Compare the action figure brands people buy. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Barbie, NECA. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Barbie | Funko | Bandai | Hasbro | NECA | McFarlane |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 64.5% | 19.4% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 3.2% | 1.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 58.4% | 26.1% | 6.4% | 5.2% | 2.9% | 1.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 63.7% | 23.2% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 2.6% | 1.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 60.7% | 22.3% | 6.7% | 5.4% | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 62.6% | 18.8% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 1.7% |
| Mar 2026 | 65.7% | 16.1% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 3.2% | 1.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 68.1% | 13.7% | 7.5% | 6.1% | 2.8% | 1.8% |
| May 2026 | 61.5% | 18.5% | 8.3% | 6.7% | 3% | 2% |
| Jun 2026 | 64% | 15.7% | 8.6% | 7% | 3.2% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 59.9% | 14.7% | 12.1% | 8.1% | 3.6% | 1.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 59.2% | 17.8% | 11.9% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 1.6% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Barbie and NECA comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Barbie was ahead of NECA in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Barbie’s estimated Share of Search among action figure brands worldwide moved from 64.5% to 59.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.2M to 1.8M.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, NECA’s estimated Share of Search among action figure brands worldwide moved from 3.2% to 2.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 110K to 90.5K.
How did search popularity change for action figure brands worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, Barbie lost estimated Share of Search among action figure brands worldwide, from 59.9% to 59.2%.
In August 2026, NECA lost estimated Share of Search among action figure brands worldwide, from 3.6% to 2.9%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Barbie’s and NECA’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.