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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

How popular is Iris?

31 replies

CoffeeChocolateWine · 24/04/2018 12:05

This is currently the front runner for our DD due in a few weeks. I saw a comment on another thread that the name is really popular and overused...is this right? Part of the appeal of it was that I don’t know any little Irises and I didn’t think it was in the top 100 so this comment really surprised me. I already have a son and daughter with quite popular names so I really wanted something that wasn’t quite so popular this time. What do you think?

Other names we are considering are Marnie, Sylvie, Tess or Hazel. My DH suggested Delphi yesterday which I like but not sure if it’s a real name? I know it’s a place in Greece and I know Delphine is a name but not so keen on that. We like shortish names that don’t have obvious nicknames. Any other suggestions?

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Carouselfish · 28/04/2018 15:53

My DD (who was almost Delphi) has Iris as her middle name. Her 2nd cousin is also called Iris. I know an old lady called Iris and, the Iris my DD was named after, a mid thirties rock musician biker girl in Seattle.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 28/04/2018 15:33

It’s a beautiful name
No idea if it’s popular, anecdotally I don’t know any baby iris

Original poster
CoffeeChocolateWine · 28/04/2018 15:31

Thanks all. Interested to know what areas people are from if they say they know lots of girls called Iris...? I don’t know any Irises in my area (south west London) but I also don’t know that many toddlers as my DC are 9 and 6 so for all I know the name may have surged in the past 5 years and I’m not aware! Still love it though. Any opinions on our other names, or any other names we might like?

OP posts:
Bearberry · 25/04/2018 12:41

I have an Iris, she’s 2. I’ve met a handful of others, but they’ve all been over 80.

Mrsknackered · 25/04/2018 11:42

I know 1 little Iris. I love it. It will never be so popular she’s swimming in them, but she’s likely to know one or two.

DanceDisaster · 24/04/2018 21:37

I know one. She must be about 4yo.

TheFace · 24/04/2018 20:55

It's a lovely name. I don't know any children with that name. I don't think it's actually that common.

BluthsFrozenBananas · 24/04/2018 20:28

I really like it, it’s DDs middle name and her grandmother’s first name. I’ve always slightly regretted not making it DDs first name, but she would probably have ended up being know as “little Iris” within the family. I don’t know anyone called Iris under ten.

I also love the name Marnie from your list.

YoucancallmeVal · 24/04/2018 20:19

As the pp said- round here it's very over used. However a friend of mine called hers iris as she had met none. So it varies by area and group. If you love it and your local area isn't awash with them, go for it.

Enidblyton1 · 24/04/2018 20:12

I often read the baby name threads on here and it amuses me how often people say a name is 'becoming really popular', when official statistics show otherwise. Perhaps there are clusters of a particular name in an area, which make people believe it's much more popular than it really is.
My DD has a very unusual name - about 60 born each year in the UK - but from what I've heard most of these 60 seem to be born in West London! So it's seen as becoming more popular there and the rest of the country has hardly heard of it.

EveMoneypenny · 24/04/2018 20:07

I really love it, one of my favourite names ever. I don't think I've ever met an Iris at all, nevermind a baby Iris. Also like Marnie from your list.

missmouse101 · 24/04/2018 20:03

I really dislike it. It's a part of the eye! That's what I think when I hear it!

HeyDolly · 24/04/2018 20:01

It seems popular on MN as it’s frequently suggested but I’ve never met any in RL at any of the the playgroups etc that I go up with DD

Antonia87 · 24/04/2018 15:08

I know two under five.

MoleskinMittens · 24/04/2018 15:05

Just spotted this thread at the exact same time as a nurse came to wheel an elderly, frail Iris into clinic.
So probably well overdue due a revival.Grin

BeTheHokeyMan · 24/04/2018 15:01

I've never met one but it's a beautiful name op

knowledgeofnone · 24/04/2018 14:59

I love the name Iris in fact the only reason my 7 year old isn't iris is because my husband has an eye condition at the time it was iritis and he thought I was taking the mick when I kept pushing for it! I know none at all.. we ended up with Ivy of which I know there is 1 other at a school near us but she is a few years younger.

Pompom42 · 24/04/2018 14:58

My DD is Iris I named her because I wanted something unusual. She is at primary school and as far as I'm aware there isn't any others in the school.

Fridasfridgefreezer · 24/04/2018 14:56

84th is pretty low tbh

rebeccabecca · 24/04/2018 14:54

2 in my youngests school year in a 2 form per year school.

1 in the entire school (as for as I'm aware) at my eldests which is a 3 form entry.

I think it's becoming more popular but still not hugely popular.

CheeseTheDay · 24/04/2018 14:50

We liked it as it was short, with no obvious short forms, but my daughter is currently Ris to her friends. I've even found myself using it a handful of times, which I get told off for, "as you're not one of my mates." Grin

Original poster
CoffeeChocolateWine · 24/04/2018 14:17

Thanks, that’s interesting. Could I ask what area you’re in rebel? I don’t mind it being about 80-something...my other 2 DC have names in the top 25!

stepback, I know names will always get shortened and kids will always get nicknames and that’s fine. What I mean is that I don’t tend to go for longer names like Elizabeth with the intention of calling her Lizzy, or Harriet nm Hattie. I prefer short names that are full names...nicknames that occur naturally are fine.

OP posts:
rebelrosie12 · 24/04/2018 14:00

I know loads in our area.

stepbackfromthecircles · 24/04/2018 13:59

I know of two. One has been shortened, by her friends, to I-I. They are always shortened!

StylishDuck · 24/04/2018 13:56

I know of 2 Irises. One friend of DD's at nursery aged 3 and one friend of my DM aged 65! I like it and don't think it's overused here.