Iris
Female nameGreek
✨ Meaning
Iris is the Greek word for rainbow and the name of the goddess who carried messages between the gods and humanity along it. The same word names the flower, whose many colours recalled the rainbow to Greek eyes, and the coloured part of the eye. Few names manage to be a natural phenomenon, a flower, a part of the body and a deity all at once.
🌍 Origin
Iris appears in Homer as the swift messenger of the gods, a role later largely taken over by Hermes. The name entered English use in the nineteenth century as part of the Victorian enthusiasm for flower names and has never fallen out of use. It has risen again since the 2000s in Britain, the Netherlands and the United States.
📈 Popularity Trend
⭐ Famous People Named Iris
- Iris Murdoch
- Iris Apfel
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does Iris mean?
Iris is the Greek word for rainbow, and also names the flower and the coloured part of the eye.
Who was the goddess Iris?
In Homer she is the swift messenger who carries word between the gods and humanity, travelling along the rainbow.
Is Iris a flower name?
Yes, though the flower is named after the rainbow rather than the other way round, because of its range of colours.