Girl
Greek
2 syllables
Iris
EYE-ris
/ˈaɪ.rɪs/
"The rainbow" — goddess of the sky's colors, bridging heaven and earth
Iris is both the Greek goddess of the rainbow and the name of a beautiful flowering plant, as well as the colored part of the eye. In Greek mythology, Iris served as a messenger between the gods and humanity, traveling along the rainbow arc. The name fell out of fashion for decades but has surged dramatically in the 2010s, now ranking among the top 100 in the US and top 20 in several European countries.
Quick Facts
Letters4
SyllablesI · ris
GenderGirl
OriginGreek
Root WordIris
MeaningRainbow
PopularityPopular
Peak Year2022
Trend
↑ Rising
Name DaySeptember 4
Nicknames
RisRisiIzzy
About the Name Iris
Iris means rainbow in Greek. It is the name of the goddess of the rainbow and also refers to the flowering plant and the colored part of the eye.
Iris has risen dramatically in popularity and now ranks in the US top 100. It is extremely popular in Scandinavia, France, and the Netherlands.
Yes, Iris was popular in the early 20th century, faded mid-century, and has enjoyed a major revival since 2010 as part of the vintage name trend.
Iris Rose, Iris Mae, Iris Claire, and Iris Elise are all beautiful combinations that complement the short, elegant first name.
Irises are often seen as creative, independent, and quietly artistic — the name suggests someone with a colorful inner world.
Yes, Iris is both a flower name and a mythological name. The iris flower was named after the goddess because of its many rainbow-like colors.
Personality of Iris
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Iris
Creativity
90%
Elegance
88%
Independence
84%
Intelligence
85%
Strength
74%
Warmth
76%
Famous People Named Iris
I
Iris Murdoch
Irish-British novelist and philosopher
I
Iris Apfel
American fashion icon and businesswoman
I
Iris (Greek goddess)
Goddess of the rainbow and divine messenger
Middle Names for Iris
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Iris
Iris Rose
Iris Mae
Iris Claire
Iris Grace
Iris Elise
Iris Wren
Iris Dawn
Iris June
Iris Pearl
Iris Sage
Names Similar to Iris
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Iris
700 BC
Iris described in Homer's Iliad as the gods' messenger traveling the rainbow
1573
Flemish botanist Matthias de Lobel classifies iris flowers, linking name to botany
1920
Iris in US top 100; later fades with more modern names
2015
Iris begins rapid ascent, re-entering US top 100 and hitting top 20 in Scandinavia
Numerology & Symbolism of Iris
1
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
9
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Taurus
8
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Violet
💎
Lucky Stone
Rainbow Moonstone
🌸
Lucky Flower
Iris
Iris Around the World
How Iris is written in different languages and scripts
إيريس
Arabic
イリス
Japanese
Ирис
Russian
아이리스
Korean
艾丽斯
Chinese
Ίρις
Greek
आइरिस
Hindi
אִירִיס
Hebrew
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