Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

How ‘old lady’ is Iris?

81 replies

Sunday4 · 28/10/2022 08:01

As a general rule, I’m not a fan of vintage sounding, ‘old people’ names.

But I do like Iris. For some reason, I feel like Iris has a bit of an edge to it, and I like names with an edge (not edge as in edgy-trendy, more that the sound has an edge. I don’t know how to explain what I mean here!)

Now I know Iris IS an old name - and it’s on all the vintage name idea lists - but when you hear the name, do you immediately think ‘old lady’?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
greenshirt06 · 02/11/2022 17:35

I'm calling my baby this if I have a girl so naturally, yes I love it!

TenoringBehind · 02/11/2022 16:58

Not at all. All the Irises I know or know of are school age.

10-20 years ago I knew old ladies called Iris but they’ve all since died.

Howeverdoyouneedme · 02/11/2022 12:13

I know an 11 year old Iris and only know one other aged 8. I don’t think it’s overly popular.

misteriosa · 02/11/2022 12:08

I think Iris was an "old lady" name until about 10-15 years ago. It isn't now, because it's been fully revived.

PurBal · 02/11/2022 06:42

The only Iris I know is in primary school so, no, I don’t think it’s that old lady like.

Penguinsaregreat · 02/11/2022 06:41

I think it’s bang on trend if that helps. I remember when the name Emily was an old lady name and absolutely nobody would call a baby Emily. Then a work colleague used it for her baby, I was stunned. Now look at it. It’s modern, classic, cute etc.

onedayiwillflyaway1 · 01/11/2022 00:46

I think it's a lovely name.

mathanxiety · 01/11/2022 00:10

Very old lady, and sort of prim.

justasking111 · 01/11/2022 00:09

We have an Iris. She's five and it's a lovely name

ManefesationofConciousness · 31/10/2022 23:56

ManefesationofConciousness · 31/10/2022 23:46

It says 1910 strong woman suffragette- rosette beauty
It is a lovely name

GRRR rossetti beauty

SheepDance · 31/10/2022 23:51

I always think of eyes, personally.
But I've only ever met Iris' born after around 2012, so I wouldn't say it's an old persons name at all.

ManefesationofConciousness · 31/10/2022 23:46

It says 1910 strong woman suffragette- rosette beauty
It is a lovely name

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 31/10/2022 23:30

I know a 40 year old Iris (was named after her Grandmother who would be in her 90's now), who was really embarrassed by her name when younger - as most kids didn't think Greek Goddess or Flower but "old lady".

Of course, it's back in fashion now- but everyone wants to fit in as a kid and luckily your Iris will (along with her peers Mabel, Nancy, Ivy, Elsie, Ada...). It's a lovely name imo btw - but then I did/do think of the Greek Goddess and flower first, rather than it's retro vibe.

Purplecatshopaholic · 30/10/2022 21:05

Beautiful name. A friends just had a granddaughter called Iris.

DurdleSnore · 30/10/2022 21:03

I used to think ‘old lady name’ but since the resurgence of vintage names, I no longer think so as I know lots of young girls under 10 called Violet, Mabel, Iris, Ada etc. It’s a fab name imo.

RedToothBrush · 30/10/2022 15:27

I know a couple of Iris.

Its of the moment, so no i wouldnt think old lady.

Winter41 · 29/10/2022 22:19

My daughter is Iris and is 9 so I don't associate it with old ladies. We wanted a name for her that wasn't too cutesy and delicate sounding. She has definitely lived up to that!

Fivebeanchilli · 29/10/2022 22:11

Sunday4 · 28/10/2022 08:01

As a general rule, I’m not a fan of vintage sounding, ‘old people’ names.

But I do like Iris. For some reason, I feel like Iris has a bit of an edge to it, and I like names with an edge (not edge as in edgy-trendy, more that the sound has an edge. I don’t know how to explain what I mean here!)

Now I know Iris IS an old name - and it’s on all the vintage name idea lists - but when you hear the name, do you immediately think ‘old lady’?

No because I know loads under 20. I know one who is 19 and at the time I thought her name was very cool and unusual. Now it's very very popular.

EstellaRijnveld · 29/10/2022 08:29

So I did! Thank you! I do love Myrtle but Amarylis is getting quite popular in my area so left that one out.

RosesAndHellebores · 29/10/2022 08:24

@EstellaRijnveld you left out
Daphne
Tansy
Hebe
Amaryllis
Myrtle

EstellaRijnveld · 29/10/2022 07:22

If you love Iris, I don't know any girls by that name, then consider these underused floral names:

Azalea - flower
Aster
Cecelia - flower
Calla
Camilla
Cassia
Dahlia
Delphine
Erica - flowering plant related to Heather
Hazel
Heather
Ione - Greek purple flower
Iona - a Scottish Island
Jacinta - Spanish hyacinth
Kalina - Slavic word for flower
Laurel - tree
Veronica
Violet
Zinnia - flower

TwoTimTams · 29/10/2022 06:27

It’s a beautiful name, a strong name too

FredinBread · 29/10/2022 06:26

Love it!

Those saying "eyeball" should know they named that part of the eye due to the goddess too.
Eg the word iridescent etc........so the eye is after a person and why a flower that comes in multiple colours is called Iris

Robishar · 28/10/2022 18:45

I love it! It was the name of my Nans sister and was my Nans favourite flower. I wanted to call my DD Iris but DH really didn't like it. We settled on Isla instead but she had Elizabeth-Iris as her middle names.

Mittens1717 · 28/10/2022 18:39

Yes I see it as an old lady name but I usually like old lady names but not Iris