Iris
EYE-ris /ˈaɪ.rɪs/
Meaning of Iris
Iris is the Greek word for rainbow (ἶρις, iris) and the name of the goddess of the rainbow in Greek mythology, who served as a divine messenger between gods and mortals. The word also gives the name to the iris flower (whose multicoloured blooms evoke the rainbow) and to the coloured ring of the eye. As an English given name it belongs to the late-Victorian wave of flower-names.
Current popularity of Iris
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #91 |
| United Kingdom (ONS) | 2024 | #27 |
| Germany (GfdS) | 2024 | #19 |
Notable bearers of Iris
Iris (Greek goddess); Iris Murdoch (novelist, 1919–1999); Iris Apfel (fashion icon).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Iris — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31