TV Romances
Challenge Accepted! All of Barney Stinson’s ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Girlfriends, Ranked
Grab your ducky tie because it’s finally time to rank Barney Stinson’s love interests on How I Met Your Mother!
While How I Met Your Mother followed the love life of Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor), his best friend (at least, his best friend, depending on who you ask), Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris), led a pretty intricate dating life himself. From his first relationship to his final play, the Playbook creator was known for duping women into sleeping with him. However, the real ones know that deep, deep down, Barney truly cares about the important people in his life.
Below, we’re breaking down every one of Barney’s major romantic connections, from the lady we’d dig out the intervention banner for to the one we’d declare his legend—wait for it—dary soulmate. Scroll down to check out Swooon’s definitive ranking of Barney’s main matches and comment below with your HIMYM favorite love interest!
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6. Rhonda
In the great words of Barney Stinson, “New is always better.” While this declaration may not hold true when it comes to a 50-year-old Glen McKenna versus Jumbo Jim’s Grape Scotch, it definitely applies to the classic pitfall of going back to your first. That’s why Rhonda “Man-Maker” French (Stephanie Faracy) hits our list as Barney’s worst love interest.
5. Shannon
Long before Barney Stinson was a heartbreaker, he got his heart broken by his first love, Shannon (Katie Walder). During a flashback, viewers found out that young adult Barney was a hippie who had never “suited up.” Instead, Barney had big plans to travel with the Peace Corps to Nicaragua with his girlfriend by his side.
While Shannon ultimately ends up cheating on Barney with a suit-clad bro named Greg (Mark Derwin), her loss proves fundamental to Barney’s character, inspiring him to chop his hair and enter the corporate world. Sure, she hardened his heart, but it’s rare to see a first love more pivotal than Shannon and Barney.
4. Patrice
Sure, Patrice (Ellen D. Williams) and Barney were never a real couple, but the World Wide News employee definitely deserves her flowers, because she was truly an unsung hero during the later seasons of the show.
While Barney’s main love interest, Robin (Cobie Smulders), hates Patrice more than any normal person should hate a coworker, Patrice makes it clear that she absolutely adores Robin, and would do anything for her — including fake dating Robin’s ex, so that he could win her back.
3. Nora
Barney met his match in Nora (Nazanin Boniadi), another one of Robin’s coworkers, who refused to fall under Barney’s hookup spell. Wooed by her newfound interest in laser tag, Barney took a major step forward, agreeing to date Nora instead of simply hopping into bed with her.
While Barney and Nora ended up wanting completely different things out of life, their relationship marked the first time we truly got to see Barney yearn for someone. Turns out, fighting to be with the person he loves is a challenge Barney will gladly accept.
2. Quinn
Quinn (Becki Newton) and Barney’s relationship begins with her swindling him out of tons of cash after he finds out that she is a stripper at the Lusty Leopard. Oddly, that’s a meet-cute that totally matches Barney’s freak.
For a while, it looks like Barney is bound to end up with Quinn, leading to his intricate airport security magic trick, which turns out to be a grandiose proposal. Unfortunately, Barney and Quinn proved to be just a tad too similar, stubbornly one-upping each other through wild prenup clauses, ranging from Quinn paying for every pound she puts on and Barney wearing a shock collar around female friends.
1. Robin
Barn-man and Robin. Swarley and Robin Sparkles. Barney and Robin weren’t just the best relationship to cross Barney’s path — they were the best relationship in How I Met Your Mother. Yes, that does include Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan). Sorry, not sorry, Marshmallow and Lilypad.
Sure, Ted had his whole blue French horn bit with Robin, but by the end of Season 8, everyone was rooting for his wingman to end up with Robin instead. While Ted and Robin’s values consistently did not align, Barney was prepared to meet her where she was. The How I Met Your Mother finale is certainly known for its missed opportunities, but none was greater than giving Barney and Robin the happy ending they deserved.
