Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen, both 33, have welcomed their first child together. It seems like Rachel has been pregnant forever, but that’s probably because she was getting papped constantly during her pregnancy. Plus she had her baby shower in late August, which is just about right as she would have been 32 weeks along but it still seems like a long time ago. Rachel had a baby girl, whom they named Briar Rose. That’s the original title of The Grimm Brothers fairy tale which became Sleeping Beauty. Here’s more, thanks to US Weekly, which seems to be Rachel’s go-to outlet:
Summer Roberts is a mom! Rachel Bilson and boyfriend Hayden Christensen have welcomed their first child together, Us Weekly can exclusively confirm via multiple sources.
The couple gave their baby girl a Disney princess-themed name — Briar Rose! The adorable moniker is a nod to the 1959 classic Sleeping Beauty; sheltering Princess Aurora from Maleficent’s curse, the three fairies call the little girl Briar Rose. It’s also the name that was used in the original Grimm Brothers fairy tale in 1812.
Us broke the news back in May that Bilson, 33, and the Star Wars actor, also 33, were expecting a baby. “They’ve both talked about this for awhile and are so excited,” an insider told Us. “Everyone is beyond thrilled for them.”
Rose is a beautiful name, but Briar? I guess they could call her “Bri,” but that sounds short for Brian. It’s a bizarre name to me, but there are definitely worse baby names. Plus at least they’re sharing their baby’s name with the press. They even explained where the name came from. I appreciate when celebrities do that. Congratulations to Rachel and Hayden!
Love the name Rose, but Briar would be a boy’s name if anything. Congratulations!
Seriously, a boys name? Have you never heard of Sleeping Beauty?
I actually love the name for a girl! Many congratulations to the couple!!
@Vanessa ~ Yes I’ve heard of Sleeping Beauty and I consider the name Briar to be a boy’s name, rather than a girl’s name. It’s my personal opinion and I’m entitled to it. Just like Ashton Kutcher’s daughter being named Wyatt; Wyatt to me is a boy’s name. You can name your girls what you’d like, but mine won’t be Briar or Wyatt.
@Jag You certainly are entitled to your opinion on the name, I wasn’t implying that you are not. I was expressing surprise that you would consider it a boy’s name when it is so strongly associated with a Disney princess (and the fairy tale before that). As for Wyatt, I think most people, myself included, would consider it a boys name because that has been the gender it has been historically assigned to (unlike Briar).
I went to school with a couple girls named Brier or Bryer. It’s a pretty common girls’ name. The historically resonant and wildly popular fairy tale has something to do with it.
Where are you from? Because I don’t think I’d consider any variation of Briar to be a common name here in the US (and I feel confident that census data would back that up).
I know one Briar. She’s a few years younger than me and I was born in 83. I’m from Pennsylvania, but I believe she was born in Cleveland.
I’ve never met a Briar but I’ve met a Briah and a Bryce. I like Briar actually. Just not nuts about going full Disney with Briar Rose. That strikes me as unoriginal but harmless—then again, they strike me as unoriginal but harmless too.
Briar Rose literally means a “prickly climbing wild rose.” Given the definition I would argue that Briar is definitely a girls name.
I personally wouldn’t name my kid after a princess who was cursed by a sewing machine, but it’s kinda pretty. Mazel, Rachel and Darth!
Lol
LOL!
Sewing machine?? Not quite. A spinning wheel spins wool into yarn. And she isn’t cursed by it. She’s cursed by a witch/fairy/what have you to DIE by spinning wheel. Sorry. Had to correct.
On the subject of Disney fairy tale names, fun fact of the day: The name Wendy was invented and first appeared in the book Peter pan (though the book isn’t really fairy tale, and the name isn’t Disney, rather a creation of the book’s author. But kind of fit.)
Briar Rose is definitely a girls name, especially since it’s original use was only for a female character. Not sure how it can be perceived as a boy name, other than the fact it almost looks like Brian??
I actually know two little Briar’s. It’s a lovely alternative name.
Do you know their middle names by chance? Briar is on my list of girl names in case I ever have another girl, but nothing fits like Rose.
I don’t know any Briars, but I agree it’s hard to match a middle name for the same flow as Rose. Rowan? Almost the exact same sound but then isn’t the same as the princess.
I would probably do a one syllable name – June, Hope, Eve, Jane?
(I have one boy & one girl and we want one more, and I spend a lot of time thinking about his/her hypothetical name…)
My daughter’s first name is June. Unless you’re a strong person do not name your kid June or middle name it. She’s one and all i hear is JUNE LIKE THE MONTH? JUNE JULY? to the point that I call her Jay.
Falula, I just got chills, my top name choice for another girl is Rowan, that’s so weird you said it! 🙂 I regret not naming my daughter that but she was born was with such dark hair it just didn’t fit, of course it lightened up a year later and it would’ve fit perfectly.
I haven’t even dated for years but I still keep a list of baby names going, just in case!
@Dani That’s strange that you get that reaction to June. Didn’t June used to be a fairly common name? June Cleaver is the first thing that comes to mind.
I know a briar lil girl but don’t know her middle name. Im not a big fan of the name rose but I like briar.
My sister picked a tricky first name for one of her daughters and they went with Lee to soften it a little. Something simple and with a soft sound works well. Also Lee sounds like it fits certain names quite well because it makes them sound like one name.
My two girls are called Rowan Holly and Meridien Lane. I usually follow syllable rules, but Briar is tough! The one Briar’s middle name is Ellery, but I don’t know the other one. A three syllable name would flow well.
Wait, mkyarwood you have a daughter named Rowan?!? This is really freaking me out! Lol. Meridien is also beautiful, I love unique names.
I do, she is five! We also know quite a few Rowans of a similar age… I feel like it’s the new ‘Jennifer’, lol
That’s just crazy! 🙂 I know of one boy Rowan so hopefully it won’t get too popular in my area yet. My name is so common and I know about 15 Jessica’s, and still get called Jennifer a lot, lol, that’s why I love unique names!
I actually love the name! I like the combination of an uncommon androgynous name like Briar with something more classic and feminine like Rose. It’s a cute name for what I’m sure is a really cute girl. Congrats to them!
I like it. Congrats to them both.
I’ve always loved the name Briar Rose! It’s just so pretty, congrats to them!
I agree, beautiful name!
Very cute. I wonder how many will recognise the Sleepin Beauty reference. I did immidiately, it might be easier for the girl if people don’t even if there is nothing wrong with it. Unless she is called just Briar or just Rose.
I read People’s announcement of the birth and it said something about “Rachel’s longtime love, Hayden” and that they met in 2011. I always think it’s funny when articles describe relationships as “long term” and in this case, it’s only been 3 years. Sometimes they’ll say that for a relationship that’s a year old! Really? Are those really considered long term relationships? Maybe in Hollywood they are.
The started dating back in 2007. They were engaged at one point, took a break, and then got back together (likely in 2011). So they’ve been involved around 7 years.
They’re together since 2007 ( they met on a Jumper’s filming)
They have been together for a lot longer than 3 years. They started dating in 2007, broke up in 2010 & got back together in 2011. If People wrote that they have only been together for 3 years, that is some crappy reporting for a celebrity magazine.
People got it wrong then….
In May, a source confirmed to PEOPLE that she and Christensen — whom she met on the set of Jumper in 2011 — were expecting a baby, days before Bilson showed off her growing bump in Barbados.
It’s always better than RDJ’s daughter name
well yes, this is true
I love her. Heart of Dixie is fantastic. I’m on board with the name, think it’s sweet.
Word. I love that show and I have such a soft spot for both of them.
I don’t love the name Briar, it just makes me think of a prickly briar patch.
Congrats to them on their daughter!
Wyatt Kutcher and Briar Rose can play together! Love the names.
It’s a beautiful name! Not uncommon, surprisingly, I know a couple Briars from my niece’s Little Gym class.
It goes really well with Christensen as well.
Call me crazy, but I like the name. And I like them as a couple as well. Congratulations!
Beautiful couple. Congratulations.
I like the name Briar, but I also like the name Ariel–that doesn’t mean I’d name my daughter after a Disney Princess. Briar on it’s own would be fine, but to give her the exact name as Sleeping Beauty is a bit strange. “Meet my daughter–Snow White”. I dunno. I’m a big Disney fan so maybe that’s why it seems strange to me. I suppose the average person is not that familiar with the name.
I would not think of this, though I’ve probably seen that movie a few times as a kid. My first impression of the name is it’s a bit literal and wordy, briar rose like calla lily, summer rain (hate that one), etc
This is going to sound mean, but Briar Rose sounds like a name a 12 year old would choose. As much as I typically love a good literary name this one just feels childish. To each their own, I guess.
I am so relieved they didn’t pick MY name. I would have been so pissed!!! Cabbage Patch Cumberbatch just flows, does it not? Outta my way, Sophie!! Okay, seriously..it’s quite fanciful. Don’t know if I like it or not.Hmmm.
BwahhHhHahAaaahahhahaha
It’s a cute name. It’s certainly better than Jermajesty,(Jermaine Jackson’s son) or Moxy Crimefighter,(Penn Jillette’s daughter).
Nothing beats lil kim’s baby name – royal reign. Sit down, kim.
briar rose is not very original. Feels very prickly and fairy tale-y. That’s all.
I’m 20 and watched sleeping beauty quite a bit growing up but until I read the article, it didn’t click for me. Chances are it won’t for kids Briar’s age. She’ll also be in a class full of Elsa’s so I think she’ll end up with the less identifiable princess name overall.
That name is awful. Try again.
That name is awful. Try again.
Wow-you guys. I feel like I’m in an alternate universe here since so many of you like the name-but yikes! I laughed out loud when I read what they’d named her. It’s a Disney princess name (and she’s one of the most annoying princesses ever) and it’s a synonym for a thorny plant. Awful name.
Getting off the name topic…
I literally didn’t even know she was pregnant until I saw this article.
Congrats! I can’t wait to know if her pregnancy will be in the storyline of ‘Hart of Dixie’ (I hope so)!!
Well they didn’t name her Fat Turd, so everyone calm down 😉
I guess they will be getting married soon.
Sweet name. Disney should love it.
Briar Rose sounds very good. The German Translation is “Dornröschen”, also the title of the Fairy Tale. Just a random note, probably not interesting. My own German name is unpronouncable by English speaking people (Gesine), but my daughter is called Stella. That’s working everywhere. Dornröschen would not be allowed by the registry office, I guess. Mazeltov, Rachel & Hayden.
The name competition continues. Seems like parents used to look for pretty names for girls, strong names for boys or family names for either. Many parents now seem to be looking for names they think are cool, unusual or shocking. Like the child named after an element because the parents fancy themselves science nerds.
Needless to say, this totally annoys me, since this is my name. First and middle. Ugh!
Isn’t it funny that Hayden owned a house on Briarcliff Lane, Studio City, and Rose is his maternal grandmother’s name?
I like Briar and I like Rose, but I would never use them together. Just too Disney Princess-ish for me.
That’s the name of an Ever After High doll, and not even the cool one.