Briar Unisex

Popularity: #367 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BRY-er /ˈbraɪər/

Origin: English; Old English

Meaning: English: thorny bush; Old English: briar

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Briar has its roots in the Old English word "brēor," which refers to a thorny bush or shrub. This term evolved through Middle English, maintaining its connection to the thorny plant, and eventually made its way into modern English.

The name Briar is often associated with the briar rose, a plant known for its beautiful flowers and thorny stems, symbolizing both beauty and resilience. The transition of the term into a personal name likely occurred in the 19th century, as nature-inspired names gained popularity in English-speaking cultures.

Historically, the name Briar does not have significant references in biblical texts or classical literature, but it has been used in various literary works. One notable instance is in the fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty," where Briar Rose is an alternate name for the protagonist, emphasizing themes of enchantment and the duality of beauty and danger.

This association with fairy tales and folklore has contributed to the name's charm and appeal, particularly in the context of children's literature. Culturally, the briar plant has been emblematic of protection and defense due to its thorny nature, which can symbolize the idea of safeguarding beauty or innocence.

The name Briar, therefore, carries connotations of strength and resilience, making it a fitting choice for a character or individual who embodies these qualities. While diminutive forms such as Bri or Ria may arise in informal contexts, the name Briar itself stands as a unique and evocative choice, rooted in nature and rich in symbolic meaning.

Fictional characters named Briar

The following list of fictional characters named Briar is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Briar Rose is a fictional character from the animated film Sleeping Beauty. She is the princess cursed to fall into a deep sleep until awakened by true love's kiss.

Briar is a fictional character from the book series The Lunar Chronicles. They are a skilled fighter and a member of the resistance against the oppressive rule of Queen Levana.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Briar, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Briar RoseLilaWillowHazelIvySage

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Briar. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

CloverJuniperSierraSkyeAutumnRavenPiperSienna

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Briar was first seen in the United States in 1971.

Briar has ranked as high as #563 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in Texas, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.

In the past 5 years the name Briar has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Briar is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Briar was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Briar.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 1,175 397 778
2024 976 387 589
2023 955 405 550
2022 926 347 579
2021 961 364 597
2020 837 318 519
2019 831 302 529
2018 700 278 422
2017 641 244 397
2016 558 203 355
2015 539 203 336
2014 361 203 158
2013 269 161 108
2012 297 189 108
2011 276 172 104
2010 243 173 70
2009 210 138 72
2008 203 152 51
2007 212 139 73
2006 185 132 53
2005 147 117 30
2004 162 125 37
2003 175 132 43
2002 135 101 34
2001 145 107 38
2000 136 101 35
1999 97 68 29
1998 90 59 31
1997 101 72 29
1996 105 83 22
1995 120 105 15
1994 103 81 22
1993 77 54 23
1992 78 59 19
1991 107 92 15
1990 50 43 7
1989 11 0 11
1988 8 0 8
1987 8 0 8
1986 5 0 5
1985 5 0 5
1984 12 0 12
1982 13 5 8
1981 11 0 11
1980 12 5 7
1979 7 0 7
1978 8 0 8
1977 13 7 6
1976 14 6 8
1975 13 8 5
1974 5 0 5
1973 11 5 6
1972 5 0 5
1971 5 5 0

Top States for Briar (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 77
8%
MI 47
5%
IL 43
5%
OH 41
4%
MO 39
4%
TN 38
4%
FL 37
4%
GA 33
4%
OK 31
3%
IA 31
3%
PA 31
3%
NC 29
3%
IN 28
3%
KY 27
3%
MN 26
3%
VA 26
3%
LA 26
3%
KS 24
3%
WI 22
2%
NY 22
2%
CA 21
2%
OR 20
2%
WA 20
2%
AL 18
2%
SC 15
2%
NE 15
2%
AR 15
2%
WV 14
2%
ND 12
1%
UT 12
1%
CO 12
1%
ID 10
1%
AZ 9
1%
MA 8
1%
NH 6
1%
MT 6
1%
SD 6
1%
CT 6
1%
AK 5
1%
WY 5
1%