Who was Fred Flintstone's best friend?

Fred Flintstone's best friend is Barney Rubble. Barney is Fred's next-door neighbor, co-worker, and constant partner in the comic misadventures at the heart of The Flintstones.

Although Barney is generally smaller, calmer, and more good-natured than Fred, the two share many interests, including bowling, lodge activities, and attempts to avoid trouble at work. Their friendship is modeled on the dependable neighbor relationships common in family sitcoms, while their contrasting personalities create much of the show's humor.

Barney is married to Betty Rubble, who is Wilma Flintstone's close friend. The two couples form the central neighborhood group, with Dino and the Rubbles' adopted son Bamm-Bamm adding to the family stories in later episodes. Joe Rockhead is another acquaintance, and Mr. Slate is Fred's boss; neither is Fred's best friend. The alien Great Gazoo is also a later character, not Barney's replacement.