Iris

Rainbow.

Iris is a feminine name of Greek origin meaning “rainbow”. In Greek mythology, Iris is the rainbow goddess and a messenger of the gods. Her role adds a sense of movement and storytelling to the name: in the Iliad, she carries messages from Zeus. The iris flower offers a different way into the same name. Its botanical name shares the Greek rainbow root, so the floral and mythological associations belong to one connected history. You might be drawn to its garden imagery, its colours or simply its neat shape on the page. Iris feels bright without being frilly; the final s gives the soft vowels a crisp edge. In English, Iris is pronounced EYE-riss, /ˈaɪ.ɹɪs/, with two syllables and stress on the first. German, French and Spanish versions begin with an i sound rather than the English “eye”. The spelling stays Iris in those languages, but the sound changes: a useful detail if the name will be spoken in more than one language.

Etymology: From Greek iris, “rainbow”, also the name of the rainbow goddess. The flower name comes from the same Greek word.