I know reading Nameberry can skew one’s perception of what is popular. [name]Briar[/name] is on a slooow climb upward right now, though it did see a jump from 70 girls in 2010 to 101 in 2011. But I see it on here A LOT. Often it’s for a middle, and we’re considering the full name [name]Briar[/name] [name]Joanna[/name]. She’s due in late [name]May[/name], and I’m terrified that when the new popularity lists come out in [name]May[/name], that [name]Briar[/name] will have shot up a lot more, and we won’t have anything to fall back on.
My other three children all have names that are easy to spell and pronounce, but none are remotely popular. There were fewer than 5 girls with my daughter’s name last year, and my sons shared their names with just 60 and 20 boys last year, respectively.
It’s my husband’s official turn to name the baby, and he’s pretty much set on [name]Briar[/name]. He’d previously chosen [name]Cricket[/name], but changed his mind.
I’m not just concerned about popularity - I also don’t like that the spelling of [name]Briar[/name] isn’t intuitive. Despite the uncommon nature of my other children’s names, no one [name]EVER[/name] misspells or mispronounces them. I also never have to spell them over the phone. When people hear them, they just automatically know how they are spelled. I don’t think that will be true of [name]Briar[/name].
Any hunches about [name]Briar[/name]? Is it shooting upward, or destined to stay on the fringes? It’s the meteoric rise of unusual names like [name]Paisley[/name], that make me worry about all of my choices.
I’m also open to any suggestions. For girls, we like nature names and word names. And I think sibsets are overrated, so I really don’t even consider the other children’s names when bestowing a new one.
I would have never thought [name]Briar[/name] is popular at all? I honestly never hear it, and I rarely hear it talked about. I don’t think it is a name on most people’s radars. For what its worth, I would know exactly how to spell it if I heard it, and I don’t think pronunciation would ever be an issue. I think it is destined to stay in the fringes, but that is just my opinion. I personally like the name, but I don’t think it has enough mass appeal in the “real world”, so I wouldn’t worry about it getting too popular. Keep in mind that some names people are drawn to and fantasize about, but never use in real life. I see [name]Imogen[/name] on here all the time and therefore would expect it to be more popular in use, but I rarely see it used in real life. I am still waiting to meet an [name]Imogen[/name], I hope someday I will!
I knew one kid named [name]Briar[/name] from my childhood, and it was a boy. He’s about 17 now I believe and goes by his middle name [name]Jacob[/name] because [name]Briar[/name] is “too weird and hippie.” Haha. I don’t think it’s popular at all, I never hear it.
I definitely think you’re over thinking this. I think [name]Briar[/name] will always stay on the outskirts. I don’t find it hard to say or spell at all. I think [name]Briar[/name] will be a fine choice for you and your husband.
About 100 births per year means about 2 babies with that name born per state. The chances of you meeting another are very slim. And I highly doubt [name]Briar[/name] will become a top 1000 name, there are too many other names competing with it - those already in the top 1000, those with more than 100 births a year, and those with the same rank that people might like more.
No, I don’t think it will shoot up in popularity. I don’t recall ever seeing it here on the Nameberry boards.
When you love a name, I think you hone in on it, and really notice every mention of it. I know I tend to do that myself.
I don’t know anyone called [name]Briar[/name]. I’ve barely even noticed it on Nameberry. It is one of my favourites though.
I’d go for it. And if you’re REALLY paranoid, you could name her [name]Briar[/name] [name]Joanna[/name] [name]Cricket[/name] and call her [name]Cricket[/name] if there is a big shock with the statistics?!