Skip Ancestry navigation Skip to Footer Ancestry Home
  • Home
  • Trees
  • Search
  • Memories
  • DNA
  • Subscribe
  • Cart
  • Sign In
Home
Loading

Trees you own

    Shared with you

      Tree tools

      • My Trees
      • First Name Meanings
      • Last Name Meanings
      • Individual Records Search
      • Family Trees Support
      • Start a New Tree
      • Upload a GEDCOM
      Loading
      • Search All Records
      • Census & Electoral Rolls
      • Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish
      • Military
      • Wills & Probate
      • Immigration & Travel
      • Schools, Directories & Church Histories
      • Public Member Trees
      • Card Catalogue
      • Member Search
      Memories
      Loading
      • Register a kit
      • AncestryDNA® Learning Hub
      • Traits Learning Hub
      • AncestryDNA®
      • AncestryDNA® Support
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Blog
      • About Us
      • Site Map
      • Gift Memberships
      • Careers
        • Ancestry Corporate
        • Fold3.com
        • ForcesWarRecords.com
        • Geneanet.org
        • Newspapers.com
        • ProGenealogists.com
        • RootsWeb.com
      • © 2002-2025 Ancestry
      • Privacy
      • Cookies
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Operated by Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company

      Meaning of the first name
      Iris

      Origin 
      Greek

      Meaning 
      Colorful, Rainbow

      Variations 
      Irisa, Irish, Osiris

      *Some content has been generated by an artificial intelligence language model, in combination with data sourced from Ancestry records and provided by BabyNames.com.
      The name Iris originates from Greek mythology and is derived from the word iris, which means rainbow in Greek. In Greek mythology, Iris was the personification of the rainbow and the messenger of the gods. She was believed to travel on rainbows, bridging heaven and earth, and delivering messages between the gods and mortals. Due to her association with the rainbow, the name Iris came to symbolize various qualities such as colorfulness, beauty, and diversity.

      Throughout history, the name Iris has been associated with the image of the rainbow and has been used in different cultures and languages. In ancient Greece, Iris was a widely recognized name, and it appeared in various mythological stories and poems. The popularity of the name continued throughout the ages, with notable mentions in works by famous writers such as Shakespeare and Yeats.

      In modern-day usage, the name Iris has maintained its appeal and is widely chosen for girls in many countries. Its connection to Greek mythology and the meaning of colorful or rainbow gives the name a sense of vibrancy and uniqueness. Furthermore, the name Iris has gained popularity due to its simplicity, melodic sound, and connection to nature. Overall, the name Iris continues to be cherished and embraced by parents seeking a name with mythological origins and a symbolic representation of beauty and diversity.
      Based on our records...
      This is the most common surname, spouse name and child name associated with Iris.
      Smith

      is the most common surname for Iris.

      William

      is the most common spouse name for Iris.

      John

      is the most common child name for Iris.

      Start your curiosity engines.

      Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
      Free Trial
      Order Ancestry
      did_you_know_bar
      Based on our records...
      Did you know?
      1920 is when there were the most people born with the first name Iris.

      We'll guide you through the process of building and growing your tree

      Explore the origins of another name.