She’s a botanical choice with a literary edge.
Thanks to Laura for suggesting Bryony as Name of the Day.
Bryony and equally valid variant Briony have never cracked the Top 1000 in the US. It’s something of a surprise. Besides the current craze for floral names from Lily to Violet, Bryony’s bri- fits in with many of the more popular choices for girls:
- There’s literary Briana at #145 in 2008. She’s topped by alt spelling Brianna at #23. Breanna is also common, at #168. All three probably owe less to Edmund Spenser and more to the many boys christened Brian in the 1970s;
- Brielle ranked #338, while Gabriella, Gabrielle and company are among the most popular choices for girls;
- Other names sharing something of Bryony’s sound include Sabrina, Briley and Aubrey.
Maybe it is because there’s no Bryony in your local flowershop or backyard garden. The flowering vine is native to Europe, though it is now found elsewhere, too. The Royal Navy has named two ships after the plant. The name comes from the Greek bryo – to grow – via the Latin bryonia. (Bryonia is the official name of the plant genus, too.)
Should you meet a Bryony, odds are strong that’s she British. Some sources insist that she’s been in use since the 1700s. I expected to find her amongst lesser-used nineteenth century names. And maybe she was. But you were far more likely to meet a Myrtle, and bryony is rarely mentioned, even in lists of flowers compiled by those botanically-minded Victorians.
Perhaps that’s because bryony is poisonous, and has also been referred to as mandrake or the devil’s turnip. The best-known Briony is probably Ian McEwan’s character from Atonement. It is a fitting choice – her actions poison the lives of many.
Atonment was published in 2001 and adapted for the silver screen in 2006, but set in 1935 England. Without giving away too much of the plot, Briony Tallis is thirteen when she misinterprets something that she sees, and sends the wrong man to prison. A disastrous chain of events follows.
It was a reasonable choice for a twentieth century character. Both spellings of the name have been in sparing use, and you can find athletes, actresses and politicians answering to the name. But the fictional character remains the most noteworthy, joined by figures like the bronze medalist in windsurfing at the Beijing games and a minor EastEnders character.
Overall, she’s an attractive option. Bryony isn’t as out there as Azalaea or Chrysanthemum. Like the Welsh Briallen, she makes for a fresher bri- name than any of the Brianna/Brielle/Briley options.
Bryony is that rare choice that splits the difference between nouveau names like Makaylyn and vintage choices like Hazel. She makes for a great compromise name, and is a subtle way to honor a father or friend named Brian, too.
For me, this one belongs with Cecily, Imogen, and Amelie – filed underr P fo pretentious.
I love Cecily, Amelie and Imogen! Oh dear …
Did you use any of them? 😉
LOL!
I adore Bryony, I always have. I tend to pronounce it (bry-OWE-nee) even though I know it should be (BRY-uh-NEE). I like both pronunciations.
We considered it, but the whole “How do you say it?” issue got to be a bit much. Bry (as in Brian and the like) makes it sound like Briny, as in the Big Blue Briny Sea (like Caroline said, except I’m not Southern). And Bree is ultimately unappealing to me.
So I can see the appeal for some, but ultimately, it’s neither here nor there.
I’d not heard this name until my brother started dating a Bryanny – pronounced BRI-uh-nee. She is indeed British and 22 years old. As sib-sets go, she has a brother named Alastair. 🙂
I do think it is a name that could catch on. I didn’t realize it had a flower connection until I looked it up myself. It’s not a plant I was familiar with, growing up in the UK.
Bryanny is an interesting spelling – I wonder if her parents chose it to make the spelling closer to Brian and thus, easier to pronounce?
I’m not fond of any name that has the “br” sound in it, besides Sabrina and the nickname Bree. They sound kind of harsh to my ears. I keep on wanting to say bry-YO-nee when I see it.
It’s a cool name though, and I would definitely rather meet a little Bryony than a Briley.
The Baby Name Wizard lists the pronunciation as Bree-uh-nee. I don’t care for the sound either way. But especially as Bri-uh-nee, which sounds like “briny” when said when a southern accent like mine!
It may be a difference between British English and American English pronunciations, but I’ve never heard an actual Briony/Bryony pronounce it any other way than BRY. But then, I’ve never met an American Bryony/Briony.
Ah, a Southern accent – it would not do kind things to this one!
In NZ I’ve come across it numerous times on various aged females and it’s BRY oh nee here although it tends to come out out more like Brian with an EE at the end.
With fusty Hazel in regular use here and our penchant for Br- names, I’m surprised I’m not seeing a few in the BAs. It should appeal to many.
It’s something I like seeing on another person’s kid.
Since my husband’s name is Brian, I wish I loved Bryony. It doesn’t really do anything for me, though. It’s a neat name, but I’d actually be more likely to go for Azalea!
To me, I would pronounce it BRI-uh-nee, but this name will get mispronounced a lot. Others are BREE-uh-nee, bree-AH-nee, bri-OH-nee, bri-AH-nee.
You’re exactly right, Joy. Emphasis is on the first syllable, BRY as in Brian and Ryan – BRY uh nee. Except I’ve heard the other pronunciations you’ve mentioned and more … as with any uncommon name, that’s the challenge.
I say BRY-uh-nee, but your post, Abby, made me think it was BREE-oh-nee.
I take your point – the list of Brianna, Brielle, bree- names does put that sound top of mind, doesn’t it?
Yep, that’s what did it.
But how do you SAY it? I always want to say “Bree”-, but think I’m wrong.