Do you hear Iris and assume rainbow baby?

[LavenderIsNeitherBlueNorGreenDillyDilly]

I’ve name changed as I’m mentioning DD’s name.

Our daughter is named Iris.

She was born after years of fertility struggles/ treatment but not losses so is not a ‘rainbow baby’ as I understand the term.

Her name has a particular meaning for us - but not that one, and if we associated with anything it was the flower rather than the rainbow.

I know this seems like a weird question but since having her the ‘rainbow baby’ link has been brought up to me quite a few times - by a friend who told me she’s only ever come across two others but they were in the rainbow baby group she attends with her daughter. Another time at a class I met another mum who had an Iris and we sort of smiled ‘great name haha’ at each other before she asked me ‘is yours a rainbow too?’ Another friend I met at baby group has since told me she did wonder if we had been through a loss (as she did herself) and that’s why we chose the name. It’s also come up in an online group I’m in.

I just feel a bit uncomfortable that people might assume that when it’s not the case - partly because I don’t want to appear to be claiming something I’m not, and also because it seems unfair to DD somehow.

In all cases the people who mentioned it had experienced loss themselves so perhaps more aware of the term/ connection. And of course the vast majority of people just say ‘lovely name’ or make no comment at all so I’m not saying it’s all the time or anything. I just wondered if it was something people generally assumed or at least wondered when they hear of a baby Iris, or if I’m way overthinking it.

No I don't. Ignore your friend and congratulations :)

I don't.

Wouldn't have crossed my mind in a month of sundays.

It makes me think of my lovely Granny. Iris is our daughters middle name. Enjoy your sweet baby.

No not at all, I have ‘rainbow babies’ as do friends (that I met through a SANDS support group) and I’ve never made that connection and never would.

I have an Iris and never associated it with the term rainbow.

I got the name from the Goo Goo
dolls!

No not at all.

To me Iris has two meanings, the coloured part of an eye, and a flower.

I don’t have any connection in my mind between Iris and rainbow.

Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Indigo
Violet

are the colours of the rainbow.

I had an aunt called Iris, one of a number of siblings, most of the girls were called after flowers.

No, it’s a flower. And the name of ?whatshisface’s daughter? The Primrose Hill actor and all that group. Jude Thingo.

Also, I’d never presume to ask someone if there’s a rainbow baby. Really that would be very inappropriate in my book.

No - this is the first time I have heard of the connection.

I am sure that parents who use the term rainbow baby to describe their own, or those who are close to them will understand the connection, but I don't think it is general knowledge. I don't think it's particularly a particularly appropriate or kind thing to ask a parent, either.

I think of the flower and of the author Iris Murdoch.

I don’t even know what a rainbow baby is - I think of Sadie Frost and Jude law’s child. It’s a lovely name.

Makes me think of The Goo Goo Dolls 👌🏻

Personally yes, if I met you I would wonder if she was a "rainbow baby" (although I dislike that term, as a bereaved parent myself). It's a beautiful name and flower though.

A rainbow baby is a baby conceived after a loss.

It makes me think of the flower. I assume the parents of the child just liked the name.

no
i love iris

I think of the flower which is my absolute favourite. It’s a lovely name.

No, it's a much older name than the rainbow baby concept.

I didn't even know it meant rainbow so definitely wouldn't assume it meant a rainbow baby. it sounds like you've just met a couple of people who have used it in that way (or know people who have) but for most, it's just a name. I really like it btw.

No not at all.

I only heard the term rainbow baby last year and I find the idea of naming a child to make it their defining thing for life really odd. I'd never assume that someone was using the (lovely) name Iris for that reason.

No

No.

No, because I’ve never heard that term before.

It’s a lovely name.

I have never heard of the 'rainbow baby' connection to the name. A part of the eye, beautiful flower, my MIL's name yes, but not the 'rainbow baby' connection.