NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Yris

A feminine name derived from the Spanish word iris, meaning "rainbow".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Yris is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Yris popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2021 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Yris is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Yris. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Yris ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 3 girls were registered as Yris.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yris as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5581

2021

Births in 2021

3

Latest year

Peak year

2021

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Yris mean?

The name Yris originates from the Greek mythology, where it was the name of one of the goddesses who personified the rainbow. The word "iris" itself derives from the Greek word "iris," meaning "rainbow." The name is thought to have been used as a given name since ancient times in Greece and other regions influenced by Greek culture.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Yris can be found in the works of the ancient Greek poet Hesiod, who lived around the 8th century BCE. In his famous work "Theogony," he mentions the goddess Iris as a messenger of the gods, describing her as the "swift-footed" and "wind-footed."

During the Roman era, the name Yris was also used, as the Romans adopted many aspects of Greek mythology and culture. In Roman mythology, Iris was associated with the goddess Juno and served as her messenger.

In the Middle Ages, the name Yris was less commonly used, but it resurfaced during the Renaissance period, when there was a renewed interest in classical Greek and Roman art and literature. During this time, the name was sometimes used as a symbolic reference to the beauty and grace associated with the goddess Iris.

One notable historical figure named Yris was Yris de Thouars, a 17th-century French noblewoman and writer. She was born in 1616 and was known for her literary salons and her collection of poetry.

Another notable bearer of the name was Yris Murdoch, a British novelist and philosopher who lived from 1919 to 1999. She is best known for her novels exploring moral and philosophical themes, such as "The Black Prince" and "The Sea, The Sea."

In the field of art, Yris Apfel is a renowned American fashion icon and interior designer, born in 1922. She is celebrated for her unique and eccentric style, and her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and publications.

Yris Farre was a Spanish painter and sculptor who lived from 1935 to 2008. Her works often explored themes of feminism and social commentary, and she was a prominent figure in the Catalan art scene.

Yris Shand was a Canadian poet and novelist born in 1936. She is best known for her works exploring themes of identity, gender, and the natural world, such as her poetry collection "The Unmapped World."

It is worth noting that while the name Yris has been used throughout history, it has remained relatively rare compared to other names. However, its connection to Greek mythology and its association with beauty and grace have made it a unique and intriguing choice for parents seeking a name with historical and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Yris by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yris was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #5581 3 1

Related

Names similar to Yris

FAQ

Yris: questions and answers

How popular is the name Yris in the UK right now?

In 2021, Yris was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Yris most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 3 babies registered as Yris in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Yris?

A feminine name derived from the Spanish word iris, meaning "rainbow".

How many people are called Yris in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Yris across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.