Unisex name · Old English
Briar
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: thorny shrubBriar is a gender-neutral name that comes from Old English and means "thorny shrub". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Thorny shrub
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #400 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Briar
As a gender-neutral name, Briar comes from Old English and means "thorny shrub". It is used in English.
As a girl's name, Briar comes from English and means "thorny wild shrub". It is used in English.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
Briar on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Briar on 7 lists.
“Wild and thorny, for a cat with a feisty streak”
From Cat names, nature cat names
“Invented as a surname; thorny and wild”
From Gothic surnames, nature-dark surnames: raven, thorn and ash
“English word name for a thorny plant, the wild rose”
From Flower names for girls, unisex flower names
“Thorny shrub; Old English, a wild rose bush”
From Gender neutral names, nature and word names for any gender
“A wild rose with a little bit of thorn”
From Girl dog names, flower and nature names for girl dogs
“Thorny wild shrub; English. Wild and romantic”
From Girl middle names, flower and nature middle names
“English word name for a thorny plant of hedgerows”
From Nature names, unisex nature names
How popular is Briar?
In 2025, 778 girls and 397 boys in the US were named Briar.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #400
- 778 babies, 484 per million girls
- Best rank
- #400 in 2025
- 778 babies that year
- Babies since 1972
- At least 7,002
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 3 per million |
| 1980s | 4 per million |
| 1990s | 12 per million |
| 2000s | 25 per million |
| 2010s | 148 per million |
| 2020s | 371 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #801 | #722 | #687 | #578 | #567 | #516 | #534 | #549 | #522 | #400 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #686
- 397 babies, 232 per million boys
- Best rank
- #671 in 2023
- 405 babies that year
- Babies since 1971
- At least 6,347
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 2 per million |
| 1980s | 1 per million |
| 1990s | 37 per million |
| 2000s | 62 per million |
| 2010s | 113 per million |
| 2020s | 214 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,008 | #882 | #810 | #775 | #757 | #714 | #741 | #671 | #698 | #686 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Briar
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- KalinaViburnum shrub (Slavic, girl)
- AcaciaThorny (Greek, girl)
- JuniperEvergreen shrub (Latin, girl)
- JuremaA Brazilian shrub of the mimosa family (Tupi, girl)
- JussaraA palm tree, from a word meaning thorny (Tupi, girl)
- MoranViburnum shrub (Hebrew, unisex)
- MyrtleEvergreen shrub (Greek, girl)
- NetaPlant, shrub (Hebrew, girl)
Middle names for Briar
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More names from Old English
- EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
- EdithRich in war (Old English, girl)
- AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
- AlfredoElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- AudreyNoble strength (Old English, girl)
- EduardoRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- HarperHarp player (Old English, unisex)
Briar: common questions
What does the name Briar mean?
Briar comes from Old English and means "thorny shrub". It also has another origin: "thorny wild shrub" from English. Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Briar a boy or girl name?
Briar is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 778 girls and 397 boys in the US were named Briar, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Briar come from?
Briar comes from Old English and means "thorny shrub". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Briar?
Briar ranked #400 in the US in 2025, with 778 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Briar?
Names spelled like Briar include Bahar, Bram, Bran, Bríd and Brìde.
What middle names go with Briar?
Middle names that flow well with Briar include Abigail, Louise, Marguerite, Reuben and Rosamund. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.