Iris

How to say it

/ˈaɪ.rɪs/

What it means

Greek for 'rainbow,' personified as the goddess Iris, the messenger between the gods and humanity. Also the flower named for the same root, and the colored part of the eye.

Iris is the Greek word for rainbow. In myth Iris is a minor goddess and messenger between Olympus and earth, traveling along the rainbow. The flower was named for the same root because its varied colors echo a rainbow. The colored part of the eye gets its name from the same source. As a given name it stayed marginal until the late 19th century, then caught on with the late-Victorian flower-and-color wave alongside Violet, Rose, and Hazel. It's been in the US top 200 since 2014. One syllable in some dialects, two in most; either is fine.

Heads-up notes

• Pronunciation

  EYE-ris, two syllables. The S is sounded clearly, not soft like a Z.

Who's worn it

Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.

• Iris Murdoch British-Irish novelist and philosopher, The Sea, The Sea
• Iris Apfel American businesswoman and style icon known for oversized glasses
• Iris (Greek myth) Goddess of the rainbow and messenger between Olympus and earth

Spelling variants

• Iridis

Names with the same feeling

• Violet Violet flower
• Hazel Hazel tree
• Ruby Red gemstone
• Ivy Ivy plant
• Lily Lily flower

See Iris from another angle