Iris or Erin

[Zarara]

Hi I’ve posted before and I think we’re down to the final two.

I love them both DH prefers Erin and thinks Iris is too like the eye Iris ( I think flower). I like both but I’m a little worried about Erin being an Irish name and we have no connection to Ireland. A pp pointed out that it would be strange to use it without a Irish connection and now I’m torn.

Surname is long and hard to spell and pronounce. Middle name may be Elizabeth but don’t want it to determine the first name (if that makes sense)

Thanks

Iris is gorgeous, I really don’t like Erin

I don't associate Erin with Ireland. It's not like you're using Siobhan or Roisin or Niamh etc.

I personally prefer Iris and think of the flower but Erin is nice too.

Erin would really make me assume an Irish link, given it's derived from the word for Ireland. Though it is pretty. Iris is lovely, and a gorgeous flower.

Thanks for the comments, it’s reassuring that people wouldn’t think it was cultural appropriation if I were to choose Erin. I’m really torn so will wait and see what she looks like when she’s born.

I know of two baby Erins, and no Irises, so I say go with Iris! As well as being a flower, it's also the name of the Greek goddess of rainbows.

Erin always feels American to me. I think it's a name that Americans of Irish descent use, rather than an Irish name used in Ireland. In fact, I think it's literally the word for Ireland, right?

I’ve loved the name Erin since a little kid watching The Waltons.

DS1 would’ve been Erin.

Iris is lovely too though.

According to my baby names app:

Erin means Ireland
Much less popular than Iris and declining in popularity
Would it be slightly odd if no connection to Ireland?

Iris means colourful, rainbow 🌈 (Greek) and there’s the flower association. Out of top 100 too! Eyes can be beautiful so don’t see an issue with that association.

Iris gets my vote, sounds a bit like Irish tho

Erin

Of the two, I'd go for Iris.

Erin is American Irish, I've never come across an Erin in Ireland. It's a brand of packet soups here so nobody would use it as a name.

Erin by miles

Iris May because that was my mother's name

Erin’s not used in Ireland. Range of (disgusting) packet soups, plus how many English people call their baby England?

I prefer Erin. I've only met one and she's not Irish.

I prefer Erin.

Much prefer Iris, there are much nicer Irish names than Erin.

I actually think Erin and Iris would make tremendous twin names.

Like both, prefer Iris of the two.

How about Ellen? Similar vibe.

it’s reassuring that people wouldn’t think it was cultural appropriation if I were to choose Erin

Well, apart from the oddity of giving your child the name of a neighbouring country in its own language (Cymru? Deutschland?), the only culture you are really appropriating is Irish-Americanness several generations from its departure from Ireland, where you encounter names like Colleen, Caitlyn (based on a mispronunciation of an Irish name), or Kelly.

Erin and Cymru would be great names for twins

I see Erin and Cymru as some kind of two-headed mythic dog from a Táin-Mabinogion crossover.

We have an Erin and we have no connection to Ireland! I love it, I think it's a strong name but pretty at the same time

We have an Erin and we have no connection to Ireland! I love it, I think it's a strong name but pretty at the same time

We have an Erin and we have no connection to Ireland! I love it, I think it's a strong name but pretty at the same time

Sorry, I kept getting a message saying it hadn't posted 🙈 This site has gremlins today 😭

Erin