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Baby names

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Original poster

Iris Deborah/Deborah Iris

57 replies

Lulu828 · 08/04/2020 18:33

Hello!
Two significant names that we want to use (and love, obviously) are Iris and Deborah.

We were thinking Iris Deborah, but now we are thinking would Deborah Iris be better?
Thoughts please!
Thank you 😊

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Awwlookatmybabyspider · 09/04/2020 12:07

Deborah Iris.

Pemba · 09/04/2020 12:44

Many people (with rigid thinking) will say that Deborah/Debbie is too dated, because it was so popular in the 1960s. But I actually like Deborah, it has a really nice soft sound, features in the Bible etc,. So therefore I feel Deborah is not a name only associated with women born in that era in the same way as, say, Beverley (which I do NOT like). Time for a comeback maybe? To make it more 'now' you could avoid Debbie as a shortening, I suppose.

Iris is OK, I like it more than Ivy, but it still has that rather harsh 'eye' sound at the beginning. It has a beautiful meaning though. I'd be brave and go for Deborah Iris!

Whatsyourflava · 09/04/2020 12:47

Deborah has a horrible sound to it sorry

It’s got “bore” in there and also “bra”. Not great.

I’m cool with dated or old fashioned names. But not this one sorry it’s horrid

Love Iris

JoyceDivision · 09/04/2020 12:50

Prefer Iris as first name, although both lively names.

As a nickname if you use Deborah as first name will you be getting "It's Detective Inspector" quips.l?

I have too much time on my hands Grin

Pemba · 09/04/2020 12:50

Nonsense. It's more like DEB-ruh, or DEB-urruh if you're going to get phonetic about it. It's far from horrid IMO.

Letseatgrandma · 09/04/2020 13:01

Iris is a beautiful name-really pretty! I really don’t think it ‘goes’ at all well with Deborah though. I’d liken it to putting names together like

Florence Tracey
Beatrice Sharon
Ava Susan

When I first started work, every other woman in the office seemed to be called Debra/Deborah/Debbie/Deb/Debs (or Sue, Sharon or Tracey actually!). I detested working there though so that’s probably skewed my view of the name!

cheercaptain · 09/04/2020 13:07

I love Iris and would choose this a first name over Deborah but I agree with Astronica. Which name you prefer as the first name and/or sounds better with your surname should be your criteria to selecting which order to put the names.

IslayBrigid · 09/04/2020 13:23

100 PERCENT IRIS DEBORAH.

I love Iris. I don't love Deborah. This is why. But honestly, Iris is so beautiful. I would use it but partner doesn't like it really! x

SpendAPennyPenny · 09/04/2020 13:47

I really love Deborah. It'll probably be fashionable again I'm a few years, so your Deborah will be a trailblazer.

Umnoway · 09/04/2020 14:26

Iris is a lot better. Deborah is very 1960s, 60s names are not due a comeback.

123Dancewithme · 09/04/2020 23:41

I’d love to see Deborah on a baby! I think it would actually be very cool.

Fanciedachange1 · 09/04/2020 23:44

I would say think of the reasons why you like the names and which you would prefer your child to be. Middle names don’t really mean much unless your child is known by both names.

My nan meant the world to me and if I ever had a daughter I would like her to have my nans christian name as her middle name. Only family and her would know it so whether the name goes, or is dated is irrelevant.

I really like the idea of middle names being sentimental rather than another name that could have just been a christian name.

ilikebigbuttsandicannotlie · 09/04/2020 23:49

Please don’t call a child Deborah. That isn’t a cool old lady name.... it’s a middle aged woman from Essex.

PancakePattie · 09/04/2020 23:59

You need to pick the name YOU like best and have that as the first name, because that is the one you will be using every day. A middle name is insignificant really, as if how they sound together.

puddycat1 · 10/04/2020 00:07

You could use Debra as your choice

lottiegarbanzo · 10/04/2020 00:23

I really like Deborah. I think it sounds unusual, strong and rather sophisticated - but realise that's because I've never met anyone who is consistently called Deb-or-ah (rather than Deb-ra, Debbie, Debs etc), or pronounced more like Deb-er-uh. It's the 'or' that's cool.

I quite like Debbie. I can see Deborah being revived in a much more low-key way than during it's peak of popularity in the 60s/70s. I can see it becoming fashionable again, in an Ava, Marnie sort of way. I think it deserves to sit alongside its biblical sisters Esther and Ruth as a nice, classic, name.

Iris though is very fashionable right now (and for the last five years) and will go out of fashion again within five years. I think it will be a very 'dating' name.

Motherontheedge1 · 10/04/2020 00:32

Deborah Iris flows better. I think you can insist people use the full version of Deborah when your child is young but once they are older they will decide for themselves. I knew an Andy who’s mum hated it and always called him Andrew. No one else did because he preferred Andy. By the same token I know a Victor who wouldn’t allow anyone to get away with calling him Vic. Make sure you like the diminutives of Deborah.

Astronica · 10/04/2020 00:52

I posted earlier but just wanted to come back as your update about Deborah (along with just reading another thread by someone with anxiety about choosing a name) made me sad, and I wonder why we're being so influenced by other people in this. Deborah is a really lovely perfectly good name that you love and feel is very special. And yet you're disappointed because a few strangers don't think it's a great choice! It goes with the territory that any name that's not popular in the statistics generally also won't be popular among posters. If you want a name not commonly used that's what you'll get.

Sorry for the rant but I'd be delighted and really impressed to meet a little Deborah and was so sorry that you've come to think 'the world isn't ready for Deborah yet'. What 'world' are you trying to please when it's your baby that you're naming? It makes me sad that people have so little trust in their own judgment. And although it became very popular in the 60s it's still a timeless name. Rant over.

daisypond · 10/04/2020 04:58

If you prefer Deborah, go for it. It’s lovely name and will be at the start of a naming curve. Iris is lovely but I know teen Irises, so it has had a bit of a run already.

Original poster
Lulu828 · 10/04/2020 10:38

@Astronica Thank you for the wise words. I'm not completely ruling Deborah out as a first name. Yes it would be an off-key choice but I think I quite like that. It's not the same as Tracy or something really dated like Maureen is it!
There are a few nicknames I like Dora, Dee, Deb and I quite like Debbie - really cute when she's a wee one.

OP posts:
Hesperatum · 10/04/2020 10:51

Deborah is ok as is Debs but never EVER Debbie!

Fivefourthree · 10/04/2020 11:05

I'm back too. I like Deborah and all the diminutives and nicknames. I agree you'll be ahead of the curve.
The point is, whether you like it. Also think of initials. Are you happy with DIC?

SuitcaseOfDreams1 · 10/04/2020 11:51

I prefer Iris as a first name, I think it’s beautiful

AnnaNimmity · 10/04/2020 11:56

I love the name Deborah and definitely think it's due a resurgence. Think Deborah Mitford.

I also really like Julia.

Iris is more frequently used these days and I think you'd see lots of them around. (I do like it as a name though too - sorry no help).

YoungBritishPissArtist · 10/04/2020 12:01

I love both names, but I’d be inclined to go with Deborah. She’ll probably be the only one in her class and you’ll be ahead of the curve when it inevitably comes back in fashion!