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Original poster

What do you think of Briar for a girl?

112 replies

Maeven1302 · 04/02/2023 23:16

Share your opinions!

OP posts:
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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.

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!

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.

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.

IheardYouButDontWantToAnswer · 05/02/2023 09:03

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

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!

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).

Thatcatisdrivingmenuts · 05/02/2023 09:13

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

FineBerol · 05/02/2023 09:30

Briar is awful

Bryony is lovely

schnubbins · 05/02/2023 09:34

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

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.

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

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!”

Moonshine5 · 05/02/2023 09:55

No

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

Show quote history

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.

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

Spirini · 05/02/2023 10:50

What about Thistle?

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.

maranella · 05/02/2023 11:22

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

maranella · 05/02/2023 11:22

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

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.

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!

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.

Stardu · 05/02/2023 11:56

Maeven1302 · 04/02/2023 23:27

Yes

Show quote history

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…