Iris
Iris is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Rainbow or messenger.
Origin and history
Iris derives from the Greek word for 'rainbow' and was the name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow who served as a messenger for the gods. While predominantly used for females, it has a long history of rare, continuous usage for males in the United States. Today, it remains an uncommon choice for boys, giving it a distinctive, unisex botanical appeal.
Popularity in the United States
770 babies in the United States have been named Iris since 1880. It ranks #3906 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1829.
States where it is most popular
- TX (54.5 %)
- LA (45.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 5 |
| 1910-1920 | 72 |
| 1920-1930 | 114 |
| 1930-1940 | 106 |
| 1940-1950 | 66 |
| 1950-1960 | 73 |
| 1960-1970 | 54 |
| 1970-1980 | 27 |
| 1980-1990 | 59 |
| 1990-2000 | 47 |
| 2000-2010 | 12 |
| 2010-2019 | 37 |
| 2020-2029 | 98 |
Fun facts
- In ancient Greek mythology, Iris used the rainbow as a path to deliver messages from the gods to humanity.
- Iris is also the name of a genus of colorful flowering plants named after the goddess due to their vast array of colors.
- Although significantly more popular for girls, Iris has recorded official male birth usages in the U.S. in nearly every decade since 1880.