What Does the Name Briar Mean?

Briar is a unisex name of English origin meaning “thorny shrub, bramble.”

Updated June 2026

Name	Briar
Gender	unisex
Origin	English
Meaning	thorny shrub, bramble
Variants	Bryar, Brier, Brier, Briar Rose
Popularity	A rising unisex nature name in the U.S.; entered the girls' top 500-600 in the 2020s while also used for boys.

The meaning and origin of Briar

The name Briar means “thorny shrub, bramble” and has English origins. Briar is an English nature name from the word for a thorny shrub or wild rose bush. Long associated with the fairy tale heroine Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty), it is now used for both girls and boys.

Variants and related names

Briar is related to several other names you may recognize: Bryar, Brier, Brier, Briar Rose. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Briar?

A rising unisex nature name in the U.S.; entered the girls' top 500-600 in the 2020s while also used for boys.

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