Briar
Gender-neutral name · English · French
Meaningthorny shrub · English
- US rank
- #400
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #400 in 2025
778 babies were named Briar in the US in 2025. It has climbed 167 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1972–2025
US births per million boys, 1971–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Briar you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 2,066 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Briar, 778 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Briar would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryBriar first shows up in US birth records in 1971, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 54 years since.
- Best yearBriar is at its all-time high right now: #400 in 2025.
- Then vs nowBriar is 25× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 51,813 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 2,066.
- TrendBriar has climbed 167 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #400. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedBriar is most popular in South Dakota, where it ranks #73, followed by North Dakota (#101) and Iowa (#106). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- Boy or girlBriar is given to both boys and girls: 66% of the 1,175 babies named Briar in 2025 were girls. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn English, Briar means “thorny shrub”. Our records link it to English and French roots.
About the name Briar
Briar is a gender-neutral name of English and French origin meaning “thorny shrub”. It has 5 letters and 1 syllable, starting with B and ending in “-iar”. US birth records list Briar for girls from 1972 to 2025, in 53 of those 54 years. Its best year was 2025, when it ranked #400 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #400, with 778 babies. Of the 1,175 US babies named Briar in 2025, 66% were girls and 34% were boys.
Origin:English namesFrench names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.1 | 240,964 girls |
| 1980s | 4.3 | 229,885 girls |
| 1990s | 12 | 84,388 girls |
| 2000s | 25 | 39,809 girls |
| 2010s | 149 | 6,705 girls |
| 2020s | 371 | 2,693 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.1 | 468,750 boys |
| 1980s | 0.6 | 1,785,714 boys |
| 1990s | 37 | 27,115 boys |
| 2000s | 62 | 16,072 boys |
| 2010s | 114 | 8,793 boys |
| 2020s | 214 | 4,670 boys |
Other spellings of Briar
More English names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
Questions about the name Briar
What does the name Briar mean?
Briar means “thorny shrub” in English.
What is the origin of the name Briar?
Briar has English, French roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Oliver.
Is Briar a boy or girl name?
Both. Briar is used for boys and girls: in 2025, 66% of US babies named Briar were girls.
How popular is the name Briar?
Briar ranked #400 for US girls in 2025, given to 778 babies. Its best year was 2025 (#400).