ByMay Sofi
Published on October 28, 2021
Fact checked byAaron Johnson
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1082408616-4478256905df4085acec1a4d8d9d9400.jpg "What Does the Name Iris Mean? (1)")
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How Popular is the Name Iris?
Similar Names
Suggested Sibling Names
More Baby Names
If you're searching for a mythical name that holds both beauty and power, Iris is a great choice.
A classic name, Iris comes directly from the Greek word Iris, which means "rainbow." Iris was the name of the goddess of the rainbow, according to Greek Mythology, and was said to deliver messages to the Gods across a rainbow bridge. Paying homage to the name's rainbow roots, Iris also refers to the colorful Iris flower, as well as the pigmented part of the eye.
- Origin: Iris is a name derived from Greek Mythology meaning "goddess of the rainbow."
- Gender: Iris is most commonly used as a girl name.
- Pronunciation: ey-rus.
Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It's important to select a name that you feel suits you new baby the best.
How Popular is the Name Iris?
The name Iris has seen a steady rise in popularity throughout the last two decades, with 2020 being the most popular year. According to the latest Social Security Administration data from 2020, Iris ranks as the No. 127 most popular name for baby girls. Starting at No. 414 in the year 2000, Iris has gradually increased in popularity each year after that.
This may be in part thanks to celebrities like Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law and Judd Apatow, who all chose the name for their daughters. Aside from being a popular celebrity baby name choice, the name also belongs to some acclaimed figures, including fashion icon Iris Apfel.
Similar Names
The following names are similar to Iris:
- Ivy
- Alice
- Isla
- Astrid
- Edith
- Beatrice
- Violet
- Juniper
- Lily
- Maeve
Other girl names starting with I:
- Isabel
- Isabella
- Ivanka
- Irene
- Imogen
- Isadora
- Ingrid
Suggested Sibling Names
If you're looking for a sibling name for Iris, these names pair well:
- Hazel
- Amelia
- Aurora
- Willow
- Asher
- Henry
- Isaac
More Baby Names
Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:
1 Source
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of names.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/IMG_8930-e287b21c0ece446997e8c3a62bfc4304.JPG "What Does the Name Iris Mean? (2)")
By May Sofi
May Sofi Brennan is a bilingual speech-language pathologist specializing in early childhood. She has extensive experience working with children ages 0-5 and their families, with a focus on coaching caregivers on ways to encourage and promote language development. She is also a freelance writer whose work has appeared on Bustle and FabFitFun.
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