Iris
Iris is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Rainbow or messenger.
Origin and history
Iris is derived from the Ancient Greek word for rainbow and refers to the Greek goddess who served as a messenger of the gods using rainbows as her path. In the United States, it has been used consistently since the late 19th century and has experienced a major revival in recent decades. It also shares a strong botanical connection with the vibrant flowering plant.
Popularity in the United States
101,550 babies in the United States have been named Iris since 1880. It ranks #371 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #81.
States where it is most popular
- CA (11.5 %)
- NY (10.6 %)
- TX (9.5 %)
- NC (4.5 %)
- IL (4.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 119 |
| 1890-1900 | 374 |
| 1900-1910 | 937 |
| 1910-1920 | 4,360 |
| 1920-1930 | 8,672 |
| 1930-1940 | 8,135 |
| 1940-1950 | 7,814 |
| 1950-1960 | 8,871 |
| 1960-1970 | 5,807 |
| 1970-1980 | 4,685 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,739 |
| 1990-2000 | 5,542 |
| 2000-2010 | 8,644 |
| 2010-2019 | 15,352 |
| 2020-2029 | 17,499 |
Famous people named Iris
- Iris Apfel: Fashion Icon, Interior Designer
- Iris Murdoch: Novelist, Philosopher
Fun facts
- In Greek mythology, Iris was the messenger goddess who traveled on rainbows between the heavens and Earth.
- Besides being a beloved garden flower, the word 'iris' was adopted into anatomy to describe the colorful part of the human eye.
- The name entered the top 100 U.S. girls' names in recent years as part of a broader resurgence of vintage floral names.