View Message

It's seems that there's been a rash of posts lately about perfectly good names that have been overused (Alexander, Justin, Ryan, and now Brian). Nothing wrong with that, just an observation!

---

Anyhoo, that's what Brian is. A perfectly fine, handsome name, like Justin, Alexander, and Ryan, but one that has been overused and thus screams "Follow the herd, no imagination, no drive to be individual." This makes it a name that, (like Alexander, Justin, and Ryan) when bestowed, makes me roll my eyes, but ONLY because it's been so popular.

I like it. Whether because it's dated or in spite of being dated, I'm not sure! But it would go so well with names like Graham and Geoffrey.

I find it boring, which is probably because I've met so many people named Brian and Bryan. I like Ryan, which is also quite popular, but the name Ryan is more smooth. The Br- part of Brian makes the name seem harsher and more abrupt.

Dislike it

---

It's insanely boring and common for me. As a teacher, I'm surprised at the amount of little Brians I still meet regularly, because in my opinion it's somewhat dated. There were two in my student teaching class, which would make them born in 2002.

I associate the name with Brian Boru, an ancient king of Ireland. Nothing fat or tubby about the imagine in my mind. To me it's strong and handsome. I dislike any spelling that takes away from the Brian Boru association. Besides, it's only spelled with an "e" when it's a last name, as in O'Brien.

---

It would be cool to see Bryony (on a girl of course) being used as a namesake for someone named Brian.

This message was edited 3/13/2011, 11:28 AM

I like it, but I do also know a fat Brian :P I know two others who are cool though, and also a cool Bryan. I like Brien too, but it reminds me so much of the surname O'Brien that I probably wouldn't use it as a first name. I wouldn't use Brian either, even though I like it, but that's for other reasons.

Yeah it's a dad name, now, but I have a good impression of it overall. I've known so many cool Brians, and so few uncool ones. The only baggage it has picked up from my personal experience, is that it seems a large percentage of the Brians I've known have been not very butch. I mean, they've tended to be unathletic (but not fat), softspoken, witty and creative. So that's my image of the name.

---

I don't like Brien, it looks affected to me. Bryan is alright. I'm reminded of Bryan Adams which isn't great, and Bryan Ferry, which isn't really great either. But that reminds me of these (IMO hilarious) youtube comments on a Roxy Music song, which sort of sum up my attitude about Brian... it's not the manliest name, it's not the most stylish name anymore, but it is established enough that I think we can't convincingly slam it:

---

#

---

It's so gay but so ****in awesome!
uralus
#

---

@uralus **** you homophobe, Brian Ferry has ****ed more women than you've had hot dinners.
blacknganga

---

I have never known a fat Brian. I like it but it is past it's prime. It is dated & very 80's. It is now I think a 'dad' name. I see so many birth announcements with Brian as the dad. My husband & a cousin are named Brian. I have gone to school with many, as has my husband.
My husband hates Bryan and I don't really like it either. Brien just looks weird as a first name, like you are just trying for a creative spelling.

Kind of neutral on this name.

I like it

---

It's very common, but I think that lends it to being a very comfortable, friendly name. I also imagine a Brian to be handsome and athletic, even though I know tons of Brians and Bryans that are any variety of people (but no fat ones that I can think of :P). I also really like the history behind it with Brian Boru.

Brian is boring, Bryan is trying to hard and Brien looks like a wanna be irish name.

It's my dh's name, so of course i like it!

I like it

---

I like it, but that may be because I have a crush on a guy named Brian :)

Hate it

---

It's so dated that it's a bit comical. Like Kevin or Harold.

Brian's not my style at all, but I have some fondness for it due to the dog from Family Guy.