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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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WoolyMammoth55 · 04/02/2023 23:39

Yes that too - a briar = a thorn bush.

a briar rose = the flower of the thorn bush

So her name, Briar, would mean "thorn bush".

It's only the rose-part if you add that word in! :)

Original poster
Maeven1302 · 04/02/2023 23:44

WoolyMammoth55 · 04/02/2023 23:39

Yes that too - a briar = a thorn bush.

a briar rose = the flower of the thorn bush

So her name, Briar, would mean "thorn bush".

It's only the rose-part if you add that word in! :)

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

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 04/02/2023 23:44

Briar may refer to a wild rose, but it's used generally for thorny plants including brambles. Also for pipes made of briar wood, though I don't suppose many people smoke a briar nowadays.
And it's a bit too likely to be misread as Brian.

Divebar2021 · 04/02/2023 23:48

I think of this …. Back when Ladybird books had good illustrations. I quite like Briar Rose but am less keen on Briar on its own.

What do you think of Briar for a girl?
RuthW · 04/02/2023 23:49

Not good. Rhymes with liar.

spinachmonster · 04/02/2023 23:51

I like it!

StrawberryFizz27 · 04/02/2023 23:52

How about Bria?

lifeinthehills · 04/02/2023 23:53

I've known a Briar. So it's a perfectly fine name. At least she might be the only one in her class with that name too.

NOTANUM · 04/02/2023 23:54

Ive heard it as slang for “thorny” or “cranky”. It is not a name I’d give a child.

quietnightmare · 04/02/2023 23:54

Aurora is better

BringItOn2023 · 04/02/2023 23:54

Briar and Briar Rose both lovely. Nature based names are good. It sounds modern and also classic. I think a Briar or Briar Rose would be a cool girl/woman 😊.

ForestMountainsDesertOcean · 04/02/2023 23:56

I like it. I know of one aged 12ish.

Emsb2022 · 04/02/2023 23:57

To get a feel for a name, I always try to imagine shouting the name out in a street ' eg Briar, come here please!'
Sounds a bit like Brian I feel...

HelloBunny · 04/02/2023 23:59

I’m just seeing Brian.

JamSandle · 05/02/2023 00:01

I actually really love it.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/02/2023 00:02

Maeven1302 · 04/02/2023 23:44

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

Show quote history

Holly /Hollie is a very old name though .

My DD is a Holly , not a Christmas baby .

I used to tell her she was spikey Grin when I could run away !

Mousetail · 05/02/2023 00:04

I'm Irish, and like a poster above, 'you're a briar today' - cranky, short tempered. It's not gendered, a young boy who hasn't slept will also be a briar.

lottiegarbanzo · 05/02/2023 00:09

Bryher is one of the Scilly Isles. Bryony is lovely. Or Bree?

Testng123 · 05/02/2023 00:09

Sounds thorny. What about Bree or Brianna?

MrsMullerBecameABaby · 05/02/2023 00:17

Anoisagusaris · 04/02/2023 23:21

‘She’s like a briar’ is a way of saying someone is in a bad mood/is crabby/narky here (Ireland).

This. That's what it means - outside Ireland too... A briar is a thorn.

MrsMullerBecameABaby · 05/02/2023 00:22

Divebar2021 · 04/02/2023 23:48

I think of this …. Back when Ladybird books had good illustrations. I quite like Briar Rose but am less keen on Briar on its own.

Briar Rose is a literal translation of Dornröschen which is the original German title of the fairytale. However the original version actually involves the rape of a comatose woman (not a chaste kiss) who wakes when the twins conceived during the rape try to breastfeed...

So it's debatable whether Dornröschen is a baby name to emulate...

betweenfor · 05/02/2023 00:22

Briony is pretty.
Rose is nice.
Briar… not so much. And resembles Brian.

MumOf2workOptions · 05/02/2023 00:24

I don't like it but Briony is ok
But if you like it it doesn't matter what others think

coralgeo · 05/02/2023 00:29

How about Nettle?

FriedasCarLoad · 05/02/2023 00:29

Lovely name. I knew a Briar when I was a child.