What do you think of Briar for a girl?

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Choconut · 07/02/2023 14:47

I like it.

DuchessOfPaddington · 07/02/2023 14:46

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 07/02/2023 14:41

In most situations, most of us don't read especially carefully - our brain fills in a lot of blanks for us. Many many many people are going to misread her name as Brian. It really depends whether this bothers you.

I love Briony / Bryony.

I can confirm this. I have a Josiah. A huge number of people sight-read his name as Joshua.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 07/02/2023 14:41

In most situations, most of us don't read especially carefully - our brain fills in a lot of blanks for us. Many many many people are going to misread her name as Brian. It really depends whether this bothers you.

I love Briony / Bryony.

fairycupcakes · 07/02/2023 12:24

I like it! I also really like Blake and Bryony/Briony :)

Eyerollcentral · 06/02/2023 21:30

Unlike Holly Briar is not a particularly pleasant sound though. I don’t think it’s a nice name at all.

newusernamegloria · 06/02/2023 21:29

I know a Briar, I thought it was nice, family have names like River and Bright, I just thought it was a nice nature name

MadamAndTheAnts · 06/02/2023 21:27

Might as well call ‘em Nettle or Thistle.

MadamAndTheAnts · 06/02/2023 21:26

Nope.

Foxglovers · 06/02/2023 21:25

it makes me think of Brian…

Llovecookies · 05/02/2023 20:13

How about Bramble?

Original poster

Maeven1302 · 05/02/2023 20:10

purpleme12 · 05/02/2023 10:12

If other people's opinions on names don't matter to you, fair enough. I didn't care what other people thought of my child's name. But then there's no point posting about it on here

The point for me is to see people's reasons why they don't like it and if any put me off. They haven't yet.

OP posts:

Original poster

Maeven1302 · 05/02/2023 20:07

SittingNextToIt · 05/02/2023 09:59

OP I don’t think arguing your logic for why a name should be just like another name is going to achieve anything.

read the room. Names are perceived the way they are - not how you think it should be perceived.

so - read the room and don’t lumber your kid with a name that will be received in these ways.

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I was merely pointing out that saying it meant thorny plant isn't necessarily giving me a clear opinion... As that is the case with other similar names.

OP posts:

Stardu · 05/02/2023 11:56

Maeven1302 · 04/02/2023 23:27

Yes

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No, that’s a wild rose flower. The word ‘briar’ refers to the thorns on the stalks as in “Dammit I snagged my sleeve on that briar”

That’s why ‘she’s a briar’ is used as a description in some places for an abrasive, thorny, person.

If you like the sound I’d suggest Bryony, Bree, or Brianna. If you like flowers I’d suggest Roslyn, Rosalind, Rose, Rosanne, Lily…

notsurewherenotsurewhy · 05/02/2023 11:51

I'm surprised the thread is so against it.

I like the sound, and I like the connotations (yes - of spiky tangled thorns!). Spelled like that, my first association is Briar Rose as in Sleeping Beauty. Spelled Bryher, I'd think first of the poet, but I have also met a woman named Bryher (she was Cornish).

It's a real name, it's easy to pronounce, it's unusual in a good way, it's strong. I def wouldn't swap it for Bryony or Brianna or Brie.

midsomermurderess · 05/02/2023 11:42

If you used ‘Bryher’ for a child, wouldn’t they have to face the daily Mumsnet horror of having to spell it out? I like Briar. I suspect most people (saving in Ireland) would not overthink it. Much like the vanishingly-slim chances of finding people not on this site solemnly saying ooh, Cecilia, Claudia, and recently, Portia, I can’t get past the meaning.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 05/02/2023 11:42

Damn lost my post.

I'm not sure I'd use it but I like it. I'd probably pair it with Rose.

I think the usage of 'being a briar' is pretty regional, so I wouldn't worry about it if it's not used where you are. Have literally not once in my life heard it used like that.

Brer Rabbit is pronounced differently and means 'brother' so not sure why that's hugely relevant. Lots of names sound a bit like other words.

Briar might sound like liar, but Karen doesn't sound like anything and people have managed to make it into an insult. Likewise not really sure why some think that Holly is fine but Briar is a 'read the room' name - it's unusual but not unheard of. And IMO it's no more ugly than Maeve and Agnes and Esme which are much more popular!

MontyK · 05/02/2023 11:41

FineThings · 05/02/2023 09:55

I must admit I had no idea a briar was a thorny plant

But isn’t that the whole point of the Brer Rabbit story? “Don’t throw me in the briar patch!”

Ha! Probably. I can't really remember the story in detail. I think the log flume at Disney is based on the story, which is where my memory of it comes from.

maranella · 05/02/2023 11:22

I think I'd go for Bryony if I liked the sound of the name.

maranella · 05/02/2023 11:22

Briar = thorny. Not really very positive connotations for a DC!

AnotherSpare · 05/02/2023 11:21

I love it. I have a cousin named Briar and always loved her name, she likes it too! It's refreshing compared with all of the "frilly" names around.

Spirini · 05/02/2023 10:50

What about Thistle?

purpleme12 · 05/02/2023 10:12

If other people's opinions on names don't matter to you, fair enough. I didn't care what other people thought of my child's name. But then there's no point posting about it on here

SittingNextToIt · 05/02/2023 09:59

Maeven1302 · 04/02/2023 23:44

Holly is also a thorny plant but it's a hugely popular name

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OP I don’t think arguing your logic for why a name should be just like another name is going to achieve anything.

read the room. Names are perceived the way they are - not how you think it should be perceived.

so - read the room and don’t lumber your kid with a name that will be received in these ways.

Moonshine5 · 05/02/2023 09:55

No

FineThings · 05/02/2023 09:55

I must admit I had no idea a briar was a thorny plant

But isn’t that the whole point of the Brer Rabbit story? “Don’t throw me in the briar patch!”