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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

What do you think of Briar for a girl?

112 replies

Maeven1302 · 04/02/2023 23:16

Share your opinions!

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FineThings · 05/02/2023 09:52

My thoughts are:
Sleeping Beauty
The little girl from Such A Fun Age
I like it written down but spoken out loud I prefer Briony

MontyK · 05/02/2023 09:47

OnlyTheWeedsGrow · 05/02/2023 05:10

My immediate thought was the story of Brer Rabbit and the Briar Patch….

Yes! Me too.

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

Anyway I think it's nice, but perhaps a little too close to Brian.

I see someone has suggested Bree. I'm always surprised people choose to name their child after a piece of cheese.

schnubbins · 05/02/2023 09:34

I was also called a briar in my teenage years .It was not a compliment!

FineBerol · 05/02/2023 09:30

Briar is awful

Bryony is lovely

Thatcatisdrivingmenuts · 05/02/2023 09:13

I don't mind it.. I can see the point about twee names.

TempsPerdu · 05/02/2023 09:11

But briars are a mass of ugly, dull scrubby brambles, not striking and beautiful like a holly bush for example

That’s exactly why I like it! Kick-ass and not to be messed with. 🙂 Plus the vague fairytale/pagan connotations.

We had this a lot when naming DD - most of the names on our shortlist were deemed ‘harsh-sounding’ and not pretty enough for a girl. But we weren’t really looking for pretty!

I would infinitely rather be named Briar than Poppy or Lily or Daisy (and I prefer Holly to any of those three because it’s prickliness makes it slightly less twee).

sonsmum · 05/02/2023 09:10

Be prepared for Briar being called a liar during primary school.
I also think Briar initially conjures up prickly rough images and my first thought was of wire wool!

IheardYouButDontWantToAnswer · 05/02/2023 09:03

Horrible. It's neither Briony nor Brian - and that's what the child would be called.

Anoisagusaris · 05/02/2023 09:02

nobird · 05/02/2023 08:59

I think it’s great. I love the thorny, spiky connotations. Far more kick-ass than the likes of Rosie, Daisy, Lily etc.

But briars are a mass of ugly, dull scrubby brambles, not striking and beautiful like a holly bush for example.

nobird · 05/02/2023 08:59

I think it’s great. I love the thorny, spiky connotations. Far more kick-ass than the likes of Rosie, Daisy, Lily etc.

TempsPerdu · 05/02/2023 08:58

“What - your name’s Brian?”. She’ll hear that every day. I really wouldn’t. Briony, on the other hand, is a perfectly reasonable name

Briony, when suggested on here, also inevitably gets responses along the lines of ‘They’ll be constantly mistaken for Brian’, or ‘Everyone will just think they’re named after a Brian’. I don’t really see the difference tbh!

mumoffourminimes · 05/02/2023 08:57

Anoisagusaris · 04/02/2023 23:23

Although isn’t Briar Rose another name for Sleeping Beauty or one of the other princesses?

I thought this too. I like it.

JennyDarlingRIP · 05/02/2023 08:56

She will definitely get called Brian

WimpoleHat · 05/02/2023 08:50

“What - your name’s Brian?”. She’ll hear that every day. I really wouldn’t. Briony, on the other hand, is a perfectly reasonable name.

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 05/02/2023 08:47

Bryony is lovely. I wanted it but dh wouldn't I also love holly.

PetitPorpoise · 05/02/2023 08:44

I think she would spend her life with people saying "Sorry, did you say your name was Brian?"

Wonnle · 05/02/2023 08:42

If she has a sister you could call her Bramble !

LabradorEyes · 05/02/2023 08:41

Does it rhyme with "liar"?

Kissmycousinkate · 05/02/2023 08:39

What about Bryher, like the island?

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 05/02/2023 08:36

I know its spelt differently but I think of a rabbit!

Like in this picture
🐰

TempsPerdu · 05/02/2023 08:33

I really like Briar, and its spikiness is part of what appeals to me. Also like the Bryher spelling, as in the island.

Incidentally, I always find it amusing when someone asks for thoughts on a girl’s name that they’re clearly attracted to because it sounds strong and not too frilly/girly, and then posters come on and say ‘Oh no, what about… (insert much frillier/girlier alternative here). On this thread it’s been ‘What about Bria/Brianna?’, and I’ve also seen it a lot for Rowan (‘Why not use Rowena/Rowenna?’). I just don’t see why girls’ names need to be ‘pretty’!

cunderthunt1 · 05/02/2023 08:25

GrazingSheep · 04/02/2023 23:18

Would you want to be called Briar?

Lol

AggieTop · 05/02/2023 08:23

I know at least three girls called Bryher but we live in Cornwall and it's quite popular here due to Isles of Scilly connection.

Blahburst · 05/02/2023 08:22

Briars are thorns. It reminds you of a rose but that’s not the immediate image for most people. I wouldn’t personally but it’s your baby and it’s close enough to a name to get away with if you are set on it.

pictoosh · 05/02/2023 08:17

I like it.
You're wrong to think a briar is a flower, as someone else pointed out...the flower that you linked to is a rose.
But I think Briar serves well as a name.