Iris
Iris sits comfortably in the UK charts at #57 in 2025 — recognisable but not overwhelming. Your child may occasionally share their name.
Greek — Rainbow; Greek goddess of the rainbow
About the Name Iris
Iris is at its highest recorded position in the UK, #57 in 2025 — the strongest showing it has had. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has broken into the UK top 100 on 9 occasions, signalling genuine mainstream interest.
Etymologically, Iris comes from Greek, where it means "Rainbow; Greek goddess of the rainbow". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Iris is a very popular name in the UK — yet a class of 28 is small enough that your child will very likely be the only Iris on the register.
It ranks similarly in the US at #61, suggesting broad transatlantic appeal.
⭐ Famous People Named Iris
- Donnie Iris — Donnie Iris is an American rock musician known for his work with the Jaggerz and Wild Cherry during the 1970s and for his solo career beginning in the 1980s with his band, the Cruisers.
- Iris Apfel — Iris Apfel was an American businesswoman, interior designer, and fashion designer, known for her flamboyant style, outspoken personality and oversized eyeglasses.
- Iris Origo — Dame Iris Margaret Origo, DBE was an English-born biographer and writer.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Iris
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Iris
Almost certainly the only Iris in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Iris
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
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Famous People Named Iris
Notable people who share this name, from history to the present day. See full list on Wikipedia