Iris

At a Glance: Name: Iris – Meaning: rainbow; also the name of the Greek goddess/messenger of the rainbow, and the flower named after her – Origin: Greek – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: EYE-ris

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Iris comes from Greek, where it was the name of the goddess who personified and served as messenger of the rainbow — the flower iris takes its name from her too. It's pronounced EYE-ris (/ˈaɪrɪs), a short, clear name with a nature-drawn, wandering feel to it. At its root, it simply means rainbow.

Meaning & Origin of Iris

Meaning: Rainbow; also the name of the greek goddess/messenger of the rainbow, and the flower named after her.

Origin: Greek.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Iris

Phonetic: EYE-ris   IPA: /ˈaɪrɪs/

Popularity of Iris

In 2024, Iris reached #71 on the Social Security Administration's list with 3,124 babies given the name — the highest point it has reached since the SSA's data begins in 1880.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Iris Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Iris, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Aura
• Azalea
• Elaia
• Gaia
• Georgia
• Idalia

FAQ

What does the name Iris mean?

Rainbow; also the name of the greek goddess/messenger of the rainbow, and the flower named after her. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Iris)

How do you pronounce Iris?

Iris is pronounced EYE-ris (IPA: /ˈaɪrɪs/).

Is Iris a popular name right now?

Iris is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #71 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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