When you hear the name Briar, do you picture a girl or boy?

Question

I first heard of the name through a book by Tamora Pierce. She had a character named Briar who was a boy.

Then I meant a little girl named Briar and realized that Sleeping Beauty's real name is also Briar (Briar Rose).

So now I'm confused. I suppose it's a unisex name. But is it more commonly used for boys or girls?

Answer 1

I'm a Sleeping Beauty fan so I would automatically consider it a girls name. But I can see if being a boys name as well. I think its a good name either way.  

Answer 2

I think of the Briar Rabbit. I believe he was a boy.

Answer 3

boy

Answer 4

I think it goes both ways but when I hear the name I picture a gothic girl

Answer 5

I prefer Briar for a girl.

Answer 6

i know of a lot of girls named Briar, Bryar.

never heard of boys being named that...

Answer 7

I picture a thorn patch. Sorry.

Answer 8

Boy, it's masculine.

And Sleeping Beauty's real name is Aurora. Briar Rose is the alias she uses.

And no, it's not unisex. Nothing unisex about a masculine name.

Answer 9

boys

Answer 10

When I read this question, I thought of a boy.

Answer 11

I originally thought boy. But after I considered it for a moment, I realized that I've heard it used for a girl too. I don't think it's a very feminine name, but I do like it when used for both boys and girls. Personally, I would use it for a boy. But it's a cute name, so if you really like it, and you had a girl, I wouldn't see anything wrong with using it as a girl's name.  

Answer 12

I immediately thought of Brian, and then Friar Tuck  

Answer 13

i think its more suitable to boys

Answer 14

I picture a girl. But unisex names are funny in that way that any predominance (or perceived predominance) by either gender will usually come and go over different periods of time.

Answer 15

I think of a girl when I hear Briar. I was going to say the same thing about Briar Rose. But it is close to Brian so people may assume it's a boy. On babynameaddicts.com it says the name is both for boys and girls - meaning thorny shrub.

Answer 16

I would say it's mostly used for girls. My immediate picture was of a boy  because I read Briar and thought Brian but then I remember Briar Rose and I'm like "Nope. I picture a girl."

The answer for me would be girl though when someone says Briar.

Edit: See, it is unisex. http://www.behindthename.com/name/briar

Answer 17

It's not commonly used for either.  It's not in the top 1000 names for either boys or girls.  My first thought was Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty), so I guess I'd go with girl.  But, honestly, I'd say it doesn't sound like a name at all.

Answer 18

I've heard that Sleeping Beauty's name was Aurora, but I could be wrong.

Briar sounds like a boys name to me.

Answer 19

Well when i heard it i first though of a boy. But now that you bring it up, i think it can also be a pretty name for a girl.

Answer 20

That's so weird - I was thinking of the same book (er, series I guess) when I hear the name.  It's getting more popular now that, especially in my community.  More eco-friendly hippy kids are having families I guess.  I always thought it was a great fantasy name.  Still a bit far out for my tastes.

It's still pretty rare as far as I know.  And pretty unisex too.

But anyways.  I think it sounds and looks more feminine (especially considering it loosely means 'rose').

It looks more masculine as Brier.  But still.  

Answer 21

Briar - another word for a prickle/spike/thorn etc not a nice name

not a nice name.

Answer 22

If I just see that name alone, I think of a school, but for a baby name, probably a boy

Answer 23

I like it for either, but LOVE it for a girl

Very nice!!

= )

Answer 24

I immediatly thought boy

Answer 25

I think it goes both  ways.