Iris Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Girl Names Like Iris

Iris Name Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: eye-riss
See what 16 people think about Iris

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Iris Name Meaning

Iris is a Greek name, meaning “rainbow.” In Greek mythology, Iris is the personification of the rainbow and the messenger of the gods. She was said to travel with the speed of wind from one end of the world to the other and was often depicted as a beautiful woman with wings.

History of the Name Iris

The name Iris has a rich history dating back to ancient Greece. In Greek mythology, Iris was the personification of the rainbow and the messenger of the gods. She was often depicted in art and literature as a beautiful woman with wings, who could travel with the speed of wind from one end of the world to the other.

Throughout history, the name Iris has been used in literature, art, and mythology. In the 19th century, the name Iris became popular in England, and it’s been widely used in the English-speaking world ever since.

Popularity of the Name Iris

Iris has been a consistently popular name for girls in the United States, but it’s not on the top 100 most popular names for girls. As of 2021, it’s ranked as the #266 most popular name for girls in the United States. It’s also popular in other countries like England, Ireland, and Scotland.

Final Thoughts on the Name Iris

In conclusion, Iris is a unique and charming name that has a strong and powerful meaning. It has a rich history dating back to ancient Greece, and it’s been consistently popular in the English-speaking world. Iris is perfect for a girl who is bright, colorful, and unique. If you’re looking for a classic and elegant name for your baby girl, Iris might just be the perfect choice for you!

Iris Name Popularity

How popular is the name Iris? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	334	92	0.0261%
1911	308	122	0.0328%
1912	314	173	0.0343%
1913	267	264	0.0466%
1914	253	389	0.0558%
1915	249	536	0.059%
1916	251	562	0.0582%
1917	247	595	0.0595%
1918	251	636	0.0593%
1919	242	661	0.0631%
1920	259	614	0.0552%
1921	247	692	0.0604%
1922	256	631	0.0566%
1923	216	858	0.0766%
1924	219	865	0.0745%
1925	207	923	0.0817%
1926	199	952	0.0866%
1927	199	986	0.0891%
1928	198	990	0.0925%
1929	196	952	0.0919%
1930	202	907	0.0868%
1931	203	870	0.0881%
1932	210	822	0.0832%
1933	217	741	0.0795%
1934	217	799	0.0827%
1935	208	786	0.0809%
1936	211	757	0.0786%
1937	213	752	0.0763%
1938	229	696	0.068%
1939	224	716	0.0704%
1940	221	726	0.0683%
1941	243	679	0.0603%
1942	244	741	0.0587%
1943	263	676	0.0518%
1944	251	687	0.0554%
1945	269	610	0.05%
1946	250	772	0.0523%
1947	253	836	0.0501%
1948	244	908	0.0569%
1949	252	884	0.055%
1950	240	948	0.0589%
1951	257	872	0.0514%
1952	261	893	0.0512%
1953	273	885	0.05%
1954	295	787	0.0431%
1955	290	866	0.0471%
1956	276	954	0.0505%
1957	303	873	0.0454%
1958	334	759	0.0402%
1959	342	735	0.0387%
1960	349	725	0.0383%
1961	360	666	0.0353%
1962	364	629	0.0343%
1963	405	523	0.0291%
1964	423	490	0.0278%
1965	410	476	0.0291%
1966	447	399	0.0256%
1967	446	405	0.0267%
1968	373	553	0.0368%
1969	375	581	0.0377%
1970	374	595	0.0374%
1971	399	498	0.0331%
1972	436	401	0.0294%
1973	393	480	0.037%
1974	465	342	0.0263%
1975	454	382	0.0297%
1976	450	383	0.0297%
1977	497	333	0.0247%
1978	450	402	0.0299%
1979	425	450	0.0319%
1980	431	460	0.0315%
1981	442	444	0.0302%
1982	451	431	0.0288%
1983	493	349	0.0237%
1984	453	415	0.0279%
1985	461	421	0.0277%
1986	447	438	0.029%
1987	500	381	0.025%
1988	466	444	0.0285%
1989	455	496	0.0307%
1990	429	547	0.033%
1991	408	586	0.036%
1992	451	511	0.032%
1993	468	498	0.0319%
1994	478	476	0.031%
1995	513	429	0.0285%
1996	537	397	0.0265%
1997	503	444	0.03%
1998	453	534	0.0357%
1999	412	643	0.0429%
2000	423	634	0.0415%
2001	402	686	0.0455%
2002	385	735	0.049%
2003	384	758	0.0498%
2004	379	791	0.0519%
2005	355	855	0.0559%
2006	369	842	0.0538%
2007	315	1,036	0.0657%
2008	336	942	0.0609%
2009	313	1,012	0.0677%
2010	311	982	0.0681%
2011	300	1,012	0.071%
2012	275	1,111	0.078%
2013	248	1,224	0.086%
2014	237	1,311	0.09%
2015	212	1,482	0.1019%
2016	181	1,731	0.1201%
2017	147	1,953	0.1399%
2018	136	2,100	0.1528%
2019	125	2,170	0.1603%
2020	127	2,098	0.1648%
2021	104	2,396	0.196%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Iris

If you like Iris, you’ll love these other names like Iris.

What names are variants of Iris?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Iris.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Irida	Rainbow	Greek
Iridiana	Rainbow	Greek
Iridianny	Rainbow	Greek
Irisa	Rainbow	Irish
Irisha	Rainbow	Irish
Irita	Rainbow	Greek

What names sound like Iris?

If you like how Iris sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Iris.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Eris	Strife	Greek
Eriss		Greek
Erys		Greek

What names are similar to Iris?

Find a name that’s like Iris, but just a little bit different.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Rainbow	Spectrum of light	English

Lists With Iris

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Iris.

Siblings of Iris

Mamas with kids named Iris also have kids with these names.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Agnes	Pure, holy	Greek
Jewel	Plaything, delight	French
Willow	Willow tree	English
Adrien	From Hadria	Latin

Damien	To tame	French
Persephone	Bringer of destruction	Greek
Sebastien	Revered	Greek
Phoenix	Dark red	Greek
Leverett	Young Hare	French
Freya	Lady	Scandinavian
Rowan	Of the rowan tree	Gaelic
Wyatt	Brave in battle	English
Briar	Shrub, Small Tree	English
Rose	Rose flower	English
Sage	Healing herb	Latin

Share Your Thoughts

16 Comments

Ivana Jan 26 at 7:43 am

Well informed course

Reply
Ivana Jan 24 at 2:00 am

Pretty rough first pregnancy but all work out good. Because nice flowery name and has good meaning.
I like all about it and my partner chose it so I like it too.
She is strong, healthy baby girl and we will continue to give her the best

Reply
Alexis Jan 2 at 1:25 pm

Nature inspired

Reply
Bonny Nov 11 at 10:13 am

Went with Iris because we love flowers and it had Greek mythology roots just like my first daughter Daphne which is also a flower.

Reply
Samantha Ray Dec 14 at 10:22 am

We chose the name “Iris” while driving home from work one day. It was more like, “Iris Elaine.” I said it as if I were scolding her, as if I were calling out to her- a couple different ways. We wanted a name both old and new. Iris Elaine was the result!

Reply
Rebecca Aug 25 at 5:13 pm

In Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow, a messenger for Zeus and Hera who rode the rainbow as a multicolored bridge from heaven to earth. In ancient times, the Iris was considered a symbol of power and majesty, the three petal segments representing faith, wisdom and valor. This colorful image led to the naming of the flower and to the colored part of the eye. Iris is also the national flower of Croatia.

Reply
Emilie Aug 24 at 7:35 am

My husband picked it because of Iris on the TV show “The Flash“, but I like the meaning of it as a Goddess of the rainbow because we saw so many rainbows before I got pregnant with her. I also love that it is a derivation of the word iridescent.

Reply
iris Jul 18 at 1:49 am

Its actully a good name and it means that she will a cool and nice person and it should be popular and i think boys have this name to and means she love everybody

Reply
Ellina Jul 11 at 2:13 am

Iris from the Greek Irida

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Sarah Jul 7 at 10:06 am

Iris was not a name we had on any of our lists, but I just couldn’t find just the right name for our third girl. All of our children have Saints names, and I came across a list of unusual Saints’ names. Iris (Greek) or St Rais of Alexandria was on the list, a 4th century martyr. A brave and heroic young girl. It really stuck out to us. Then we found out it meant “rainbow” in Greek, and our Iris is our second rainbow baby, born after a miscarriage of her older brother Jude. We just think it’s perfect for her.

Reply
Melissa Jan 5 at 2:06 pm

It means “rainbow.” I have had two miscarriages, and Iris is a sign of God’s promise. We also have two older children with nature names and Iris goes well with them.

Reply
Nicole April May 6 at 9:33 am

We named our daughter Iris after the Greek goddess of the rainbow.

Reply
Megan Sep 25 at 8:16 pm

I thought I was carrying a boy so when she was born at 23 weeks a girl and didn’t make it, I had to scramble to find a girl name for her. It fit very well.

Reply
Catey Jun 21 at 11:39 am

We wanted something classic yet unique. “Iris” was mentioned while driving in the car one day and we never thought of another name we liked more!

Reply
Phil & Miranda Apr 13 at 8:58 pm

We wanted her full name to include a feminine name as well as a biblical/Christian-based name. When it came to Iris, we loved the thought of a floral name and had both always been fond of that particular one. We were blessed, it was just meant to be for her.

Reply
Isabel Apr 13 at 7:03 pm

my husband and I both had a name for my baby girl. When she was born, I feel the name my husband picked suits her better, thus, we named our girl Iris. Iris means rainbow in Greek. I want her life to be full of happiness and colorful.

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