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.

I have a 2 year old called Iris. Nobody has ever mentioned rainbow babies to me with regards to her name. I do get lots of positive comments. It’s a beautiful name. Enjoy your little Iris op!

No. I connect Iris to rainbows but would never assume that meant someone called Iris was a “rainbow baby”.

Not at all. So unhelpful that people would say that.

I've never heard of it being used in that context. It's a lovely name. Congratulations!

I wouldn't have known what arainbow baby was if I hadn't just googled it.most people won't.I think it would. E very crass to call a rainbow baby Iris anyway

No - I have heard of it being used in that context, usually as a middle name, but I certainly wouldn't assume.

It's a beautiful name.

No it makes me think of my 95 year old relative with that name.
Tbh nothing would make me think 'rainbow baby'. It's an expression I've only ever heard on Mumsnet and not a phrase I'd care to use in real life.

No.

I know that Iris was the goddess of rainbows and I know about the concept of rainbow babies, but it's a fairly common (and very pretty) name so if I met a baby Iris I wouldn't assume any connection.

No. What has Iris got to do with rainbows?

No. I’ve never heard that connection.

Congratulations on the arrival of your DD

If you told me your baby is called Iris, I would assume you liked the name Iris. At a push I would think you liked the flowers.
I wouldn't think or connect it to anything else.
I think meanings of names are pointless and usually meaningless.

No. I might try to talk to you about Greek mythology, though.

No, not at all, it's a very pretty name I'd have like probably used had I had a girl,

Bloody gorgeous name, really lovely, and no I wouldn't have made that connection - only a tiny subset of people would.

It reflects well on you that the people you've been in contact with feel comfortable enough to ask and to share their own experiences, it sounds like you managed those conversations really sensitively. Once you're out of the littley phase it will stop I'm sure..

Wasn’t aware of the association at all but, then again, my knowledge of Greek mythology is very basic. I have a friend with a 10 year old DD called Iris after her grandmother, info which she volunteered up - it wouldn’t occur to me to actively ask her if her DD is named due to a prior loss.

Greek goddess of rainbows.

'Iris' is the word for rainbow in modern Greek.

'Rainbow' in Spanish is an 'Arcoiris'.

Plenty of connections.

OP, I think people who have experienced a loss and use the term 'rainbow baby' will see the connection and wonder about it.

Everyone else, not at all.

I know a couple of Irises, wouldn't occur to me that it wasn't after the flower or a family name

No, I’d just think “lovely name”.

Asking someone if their child is a rainbow baby is so inappropriate! Not least as not everyone likes to use that term for themselves.

Not at all

Lovely name and I wouldn't think that at all

No, never heard of a link and still don’t get why there would be that association.

It’s a lovely name, and makes me think of the flower and also a musician I used to know called Iris.

Anyone actually asking you if you’ve lost a child previously is a nosy insensitive dick.

It may mean rainbow in Greek, but we aren’t in Greece, and most people don’t speak Greek.

In English, Iris is a flower or the prettiest part of the eye.

Why would anyone in England know or care what it means in Greece 🤷‍♀️

I’d think you were into Greek mythology, and I’d probably try to talk to you about it.

Iris travelled along rainbows taking messages and doing errands for the gods. I had a lovely illustration in my Greek myths book when I was a child, and always liked the name as a result.

Wouldn’t have made the connection. I think it’s a lovely name too.

Why would anyone in England know or care what it means in Greece

Because Greek mythology is a significant source of Western European culture and many people have at least a passing familiarity with it.