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Alternatives to Iris

  1. Themis

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "law of nature, divine law"

    • Description:

      Themis was the Titan -- one of the Elder Gods (or in this case Goddesses) -- of Justice and Order, usually depicted blindfolded and holding the scales of justice. Themis was the mother of the Fates and the seasons. While her name has fallen from mortal use, Themis might rise again along with such rediscovered goddess names as Aurora and Juno.
  2. Phyllis

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "green bough"

    • Description:

      Phyllis has been used by classical poets for the idealized pastoral maiden. A Greek mythological name of a woman who was turned into an almond tree, Phyllis was in the Top 100 from 1916 to 1958, reaching #24 in 1929, and has the (remote) possibility of joining other revived s-ending names like Iris. In the 'St Clare' book series by Enid Blyton Phyllis is nicknamed Fizz. Just a thought. Phyllida is a variation that sounds at once more old-fashioned and more stylish.
  3. Venus

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "love, desire"

    • Description:

      The name of a heavenly planet and the Roman goddess of beauty and love was an intimidating no-no until tennis champ Venus Williams put an athletic, modern spin on it.
  4. Eos

    • Origin:

      Greek; Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "dawn; nightingale"

    • Description:

      Eos -- that's pronounced with a short e like eros without the r -- is the Greek Titan of the dawn. Any ancient name with a sleek modern feel has definite revival possibilities. Eos could be an inventive way to honor grandma Dawn.
  5. Aris

    • Origin:

      Variation of Ares or short form of Aristea, Aristella, or Aistotelia, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "ruin, bane; the best"

    • Description:

      Aris is typically a masculine name in Greek, connected to the ancient Greek god of war, Ares, or to Aristoteles, meaning "the best purpose". As a feminine name, however, it could be considered a short for of girl names beginning with the "Aris-" prefix, usually interpreted as meaning "the best".
  6. Rainbow

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "rainbow"

    • Description:

      Colorful, yes, but also probably among the hippiest of hippie names. Holly Madison recently chose it for her little girl.
  7. Iyra

    • Origin:

      Arabic, Urdu or Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "respectable, awe-inspiring; or a name for the goddess Saraswati"

    • Description:

      Variant of Ayra
  8. Idris

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "lord"

    • Description:

      Usually seen as a masculine name (deriving from both Welsh and Arabic), in its feminine usage it is from the Welsh alone. Idris has been used as a feminine name twice in popular culture: first by Mary Shelley in her post-apocalyptic novel "The Last Man" and also in cult British TV show, Dr Who, where Idris is the female personification of the TARDIS. A real-life Canadian woman named Idris Hall changed her name to the evocative Aloha Wanderwell and became "The World's Most Well Travelled Girl".
  9. Karis

    • Origin:

      English variation of Carys, Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "love"

    • Description:

      This much less popular variation draws more from Karin.
  10. Itza

    • Origin:

      Variation of Itzel, Mayan

    • Meaning:

      "rainbow lady"

    • Description:

      Itza is a rare Itzel variant that shares its colorful meaning. Itza also connects to the Itza people of Guatemala and their language of the same name. Chichen Itza was a city built by the Mayans in what is now the Yucatán of Mexico.
  11. Iskra

    • Origin:

      Slavic

    • Meaning:

      "spark"

    • Description:

      A vocabulary word used as a name in many Slavic countries, Iskra means "spark" or "sparkle". It was the name of a revolutionary communist newspaper founded by Lenin in 1900. A famous modern bearer is English model Iskra Lawrence.
  12. Eirys

    • Origin:

      Welsh, from English flower name

    • Description:

      Cymricized version of the English flower/rainbow/goddess name Iris.
  13. Irja

    • Origin:

      Finnish variation of Irya, Russian

    • Meaning:

      "peace"

    • Description:

      Irja is the Finnish translation of Irya, the Russian short form of Irina. Arja is a more modern variation.
  14. Keris

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Kerris or Cerys

    • Meaning:

      "love"

    • Description:

      This phonetic version of the Welsh Cerys might be easier for Americans, certainly, to understand, but it does lose some poetry in translation.
  15. Iria

    • Origin:

      Portuguese variation of Eirene

    • Meaning:

      "peace"

    • Description:

      Iria is a diminutive version of Eirene / Irene and is therefore associated with the Greek goddess of peace.
  16. Enfys

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "rainbow"

    • Description:

      The Welsh name Enfys is a unisex name, although it is more commonly used for girls. With the beautiful meaning "rainbow", it is a rare choice in the UK, given to just a handful of babies each year, with 7 girls receiving the name in the most recent stats.
  17. Irha

    • Origin:

      Arabic, "to make calm, to tranquilize".

    • Meaning:

      "to make calm, to tranquilize"

    • Description:

      A serene name of Arabic origin that was a fast rising choice in the UK in 2022.
  18. Edris

    • Description:

      Edris is a feminine name with rich multicultural origins. In Arabic tradition, it's the name of a prophet identified with the biblical Enoch, meaning 'interpreter' or 'studious.' The name also appears in Persian culture with connections to learning and wisdom. In Welsh contexts, Edris relates to the name Idris, associated with the legendary giant and astronomer of Welsh mythology. This cross-cultural name offers a distinctive yet accessible sound that travels well across linguistic boundaries. While traditionally more common in Muslim communities, Edris has potential broader appeal as parents increasingly seek meaningful names with international roots. The name's connections to wisdom and knowledge give it an intellectual quality, while its brevity and ending sound make it distinctively feminine yet strong.

  19. Aeris

    • Description:

      Aeris is a feminine name with ethereal qualities, derived from the Latin word 'aer' meaning 'air' or 'atmosphere.' The name gained significant recognition through the character Aeris Gainsborough in the popular 1997 video game Final Fantasy VII, contributing to its modern usage. With its connection to air and the heavens, Aeris evokes a sense of lightness, freedom, and spiritual elevation. The name has a melodic quality with its soft consonants and flowing vowels. While still relatively uncommon, Aeris has attracted parents seeking names with nature connections and mystical undertones. Its popularity saw some increase in the early 2000s among gaming enthusiasts and those drawn to names with celestial or elemental associations.
  20. Irya

    • Origin:

      Variation of Irina, Russian

    • Meaning:

      "peace"

    • Description:

      Irya is an Irina diminutive, and rare even in its native country.