What Does the Name Iris Mean?
Iris is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning “rainbow.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Iris |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Greek |
| Meaning | rainbow |
| Variants | Irisa, Irida |
| Popularity | A vintage name enjoying a strong revival, now within the U.S. top 150. |
The meaning and origin of Iris
The name Iris means “rainbow” and has Greek origins. From the name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow and a messenger of the gods; also the name of the flower. It has been used as an English given name since the 19th century.
Variants and related names
Iris is related to several other names you may recognize: Irisa, Irida. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Iris?
A vintage name enjoying a strong revival, now within the U.S. top 150.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Iris below.
Generate a fake Iris profile
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Iris mean?+
The name Iris means “rainbow” and is of Greek origin.
What is the origin of the name Iris?+
Iris originates from Greek.
Is Iris a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Iris has trended in the US over time.
Iris by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press