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Baby names

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

Bryony- gone off it?

27 replies

WhineandDine1 · 31/01/2018 01:18

DP suggested Bryony a few weeks ago and I immediately loved it. However I mentioned it to a friend a few days ago who said it's basically Brian with an "ee" on the end. I have no issues with uni sex names or even "boyish" girls names (I really like Brynn and Ryan for example for girls) but Brian isn't exactly the nicest male name!

I can't get "Brian" out of my head now. What are people's general thoughts on the name? Is anyone here a Bryony or has a DD Bryony?

OP posts:
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CheapSausagesAndSpam · 31/01/2018 01:52

I'm like you...reminds me of Brian.

I like names such as

Robin
Rose
Tabitha

SuperBeagle · 31/01/2018 01:56

It reminds me of Kath and Kim, where Kim calls her friend's baby "whiny Bryony".

I'm not a fan of it, honestly.

AnyaMoondial · 31/01/2018 02:21

It doesn't make me think of Brian at all, i think it's a fine name. I slightly prefer the Briony spelling though.

It means vine or something doesn't it? A naturey name.

lizzlebizzle33 · 31/01/2018 03:21

I do like boyish names for girls too but I'm not s fan of Bryony sorry OP 😬

What about Riley? I wanted this for our DC but last name begins with s R and it's isn't sound right

LolitaLempicka · 31/01/2018 03:25

Every Bryony I have ever met (quite a few of a certain age as it was quite popular in the 80s) I just assumed were named after their dad/grandad who was called Brian.

FannyHertz · 31/01/2018 03:27

I like it. Also like Brianna.

ArsenalsPlayingAtHome · 31/01/2018 06:17

Not keen.

Hidingtonothing · 31/01/2018 06:34

What about Romilly? Kind of similar without the Brian issue.

17caterpillars1mouse · 31/01/2018 07:51

I love Bryony nn Bree

JesusTapdancingChrist · 31/01/2018 07:54

I really dislike it. I know it's spelled Bryony/Briony but all my ear hears is Brian-y.

It also makes me think of Saoirse Ronan's awful character in Atonement.

user187656748 · 31/01/2018 07:57

I've never seen the Bryony spelling, only Briony. Brianna is becoming more popular because of Outlander.

Both are female versions of Brian though.

AnthonyJoshuasMrs · 31/01/2018 07:58

I like Bryony, although when I was a child and knew a couple I did call them Brian. Disagree with pp on the Briony spelling though, seeing ion in sequence makes me think onion.

Also now I think it through, is the name Brian really that bad anyway? Out of fashion but maybe due a revival? After all Ryan is dead similar and v popular Hmm

Ginandplatonic · 31/01/2018 08:02

They are both female versions of Brian

Bryony is not a female version of Brian - it is a nature name - a flowering vine as pp said. The plant is spelled Bryony. I like it.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 31/01/2018 08:04

How about Briar, like the Rose, very pretty.
Not keen on Bryony.

PurpleTraitor · 31/01/2018 08:07

User - no, Bryony is a Latin plant name. It doesn’t share an etymological root with Brian.

Female form of Brian is Brianne/Brianna.

user187656748 · 31/01/2018 08:09

Ah ok I stand corrected. Its pretty though, I like it.

MakkaPakkasMate · 31/01/2018 09:14

My cousin is Bryony nn Bry. She loves it and has never been called Brian afaik😕

CAAKE · 31/01/2018 09:51

I've heard it pronounced Bri-own-y rather than Brian-y, and I prefer the former. She'd go through life correcting people, though.

Romily is a good suggestion.

whifflesqueak · 31/01/2018 09:54

Bracken?

Makes me think of lovely wild British flora in the same was Bryony does but minus the Brian association.

ladybirdsaredotty · 31/01/2018 10:27

I like it, prefer it as Briony though.

MammieBear · 31/01/2018 10:49

I can see your friends point, but there are alot of names you could say it about like for example Philippa or Danielle... Bryony is a plant name as well, it's notas popular as Violet and Lily and Rose so I think it has potential.

IVflytrap · 31/01/2018 11:03

I love Bryony and have never thought of it as a female version of Brian (probably because it isn't, and because actual female versions of Brian like Brianna exist). Other possibilities:

Ivy
Bethany
Fern
Bronwen
Rhoswen
Elodie
Damaris
Bridget
Rowan
Naomi
Laurel

daisypond · 31/01/2018 11:53

I'd never associate Bryony/Briony with Brian! It's not related in the least. I'm surprised people would think it is. It's a plant name - lovely.

tattychicken · 31/01/2018 11:55

Bryony nothing to do with Brian. It's a beautiful name. What about Bronwyn?

JumpingFrogs · 31/01/2018 12:43

Love it! Know two...one young adult and one middle aged woman. I think it's a little unusual without being too wacky. Don't particularly associate it witb Brian. Bryony is a plant name.