Briony

Brian-ee
Spelling variation of Bryony
"to sprout"

Briony Origin and Meaning

The name Briony is a girl's name of Latin origin meaning "to sprout".

Briony may be the variation and Bryony the original, but many parents will see this as the more authentic-feeling version of this attractive botanical name. Still unusual in the U.S., Briony is in the British Top 100 and may appeal to parents as a fresh spin on Briana or Brittany or an honorific for a Brian, though it bears no relationship to the male name.

Briony Tallis is the young girl who sets the plot in motion in Ian McEwan's novel Atonement--played on screen by Saoirse Ronan, for which she received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination.

Briony is a variant spelling of Bryony, coming from the Greek meaning 'to grow luxuriantly'. Bryony/Briony is an unusually strong plant name --the bryony being a wild climbing vine with green flowers

Pronunciation is like Brian with an ee at the end.

# 798 on Nameberry

Briony Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Briony Popularity

Famous People Named Briony

  • Briony Behets
    Australian actress
  • Briony Cole
    Australian Olympic diver
  • Briony McRoberts
    English actress
  • Briony Stewart
    Australian novelist and illustrator
  • Briony Williams
    Australian actress

Briony in Pop Culture

  • Briony Tallis
    character in Ian McEwan's "Atonement"
  • Briony Campbell
    character on British soap "EastEnders"
  • Briony Eddon
    character in Tad William's "Shadowmarch"