Iris
Say it: EYE-ris
GirlMythologyMeans rainbow4 letters2 syllables
#141
in Ireland (2025)
32
babies in 2025
#120
best rank (2024)
478
babies since 1964
Up 323
10-year rank change
Iris through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | #141 |
| 2024 | 39 | #120 |
| 2023 | 34 | #139 |
| 2022 | 24 | #196 |
| 2021 | 26 | #185 |
| 2020 | 30 | #160 |
| 2019 | 22 | #221 |
| 2018 | 13 | #333 |
| 2017 | 20 | #241 |
| 2016 | 12 | #360 |
| 2015 | 9 | #464 |
| 2014 | 14 | #336 |
| 2013 | 16 | #305 |
| 2012 | 9 | #477 |
| 2011 | 5 | #693 |
| 2010 | 3 | #909 |
| 2009 | 12 | #381 |
| 2008 | 9 | #471 |
| 2007 | 6 | #549 |
| 2006 | 7 | #465 |
| 2005 | 3 | #690 |
| 2004 | 5 | #511 |
| 2003 | 5 | #490 |
| 2000 | 5 | #413 |
| 1988 | 3 | #492 |
| 1987 | 3 | #488 |
| 1985 | 3 | #519 |
| 1984 | 3 | #516 |
| 1981 | 4 | #471 |
| 1980 | 6 | #401 |
| 1979 | 5 | #420 |
| 1978 | 4 | #469 |
| 1977 | 3 | #518 |
| 1976 | 3 | #497 |
| 1975 | 4 | #455 |
| 1974 | 8 | #324 |
| 1973 | 5 | #402 |
| 1972 | 6 | #352 |
| 1971 | 8 | #303 |
| 1970 | 4 | #396 |
| 1969 | 12 | #245 |
| 1968 | 5 | #327 |
| 1967 | 8 | #253 |
| 1966 | 5 | #310 |
| 1965 | 12 | #215 |
| 1964 | 4 | #327 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Iris mean?
Rainbow
Greek, from iris (rainbow), also the name of a flower.
Say it right
EYEris
The story of Iris
Iris is the ancient Greek word for a rainbow. In Greek myth, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and a messenger of the gods. The coloured part of the eye and the iris flower both take their names from the same word.
As a first name in English it dates from the end of the nineteenth century, and it is usually counted among the flower names. An asteroid, 7 Iris, carries the name too.
Iris was given now and then in Ireland when the CSO records begin, but only a handful of times a year for decades. It has picked up since around 2020. Its best year was 2024, with 39 girls at number 120, and 32 girls got the name in 2025. It is less common in Northern Ireland, where its best rank was number 151 in 2023.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Iris (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Iris (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Iris | 32 | 478 |
In Northern Ireland
#334 in 2025 with 4 babies. Best rank #151 (2023); 72 babies since 2009.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.