Iris or Eira for a girl?

[NorseMum]

Hi! 👋
Just want to see what people think of the names Iris vs Eira?

Iris: Greek goddess of rainbow. Popular all over the world.

Eira: Norse goddess of healing/medicine. Popular in Sweden, Norway, Finland and also in Wales.

We are a Nordic/English family, and we like both names...but which name is prettier for a girl today? 🤔

(Pronunciation: Eye-ris and Eye-ra.)

Thanks 🙏

Iris

Eira.

I don’t like Iris at all.

Iris.

Much nicer plus easier to pronounce - I had no idea how to pronounce Eira until I read your full post.

Are you living in the UK?

Eira is a popular Welsh name different to the Nordic name - in Welsh it means snow and it's pronounced Ay-rah. If you are in the UK people might be more familiar with the Welsh pronunciation - just something to be aware of.

Iris is lovely.
Eira I would not instinctively pronounce the way you want it. I would say Air-uh.
Obviously if I was told correctly I would then learn, but it might get annoying.
It seems the Welsh version is said differently again.
But go with what you love most, people will learn.

Iris! Eira may be mispronounced. I’d have assumed it rhymed with Keira.

I really like Iris, but no one i suggest it to in real like seems very keen.

With eira, I would prefer Ay-rah pronunciation but if i was reading the name I would say eye-rah which I don’t like and don’t think is as pretty as the meaning of the name.

Iris is the coloured part of the eye, so no. Not keen on Eira.

Do you pronounce Eira, Ira? I quite like it its unusual without being out there

I love both! Which is no help at all.
I do sort of love the alliteration of Eira Iris if you used both.

ditto

When are you due? Eira is also a Welsh name meaning snow, so I wouldn't use it for a summer baby but would definitely consider for a December/January baby.

I'm not a big fan of Iris. However, if you are looking at Norse names, have you considered Eydís?

Iris. Beautiful.

Of the two, I would have to say Iris.
Eira, which I would pronounce Eye-ra, make me think of my granddad's name Ira.

Ooh I love both - I’d probably choose Iris because of the pronunciation variations with Eira, but it’s a close call!

Iris is also a flower, I like iris best

Can’t decide they’re both lovely. I’ve never heard of Eira so it’s more unusual.
you can’t go wrong with either name

I really like Eira - but you will have to tell people how to pronounce it frequently!

Iris. i don't like Eira, it sounds harsh.

Iris if mispronunciation is going to bug you -as many people, including myself, would pronounce Eira as “Ay-ra” as the “Ei” makes an “Ay” sound in a lot of places like N. Wales and in many countries in Asia afaik. Iris is much more well used as a name because of the flower and universally pronounced as “Eye-ris” I think.

Iris. I have a Welsh name that is completely phonetic and constantly have to spell it, have it mispronounced. People know Iris

I actually really like them both but I think Iris is a little bit nicer, and probably easier for people to pronounce right for the most part.

I would only know how to pronounce iris

I love them both, we have similar taste. I think Iris may sound a little stronger than the soft Eira. Personally I wouldn't worry about the fact that some people haven't heard the name. It has become more used and it's nice that's it's unique, people will pick it up.

Just to throw a bit more confusion into the ring but have you considered Ianthe? Like Iris it’s a name from Greek mythology and is often pronounced as “Eye-an-thee”. Some people do pronounce it as “Ee-an-thee” too but it’s so rare compared to something like Eira, I think it would be easier to have the pronunciation sound that you prefer.

I know you weren’t asking for other name ideas but there’s relatively few girls names with that “eye” sound and I always think it’s sad that so few people have heard of beautiful, literary Ianthe.