Iris in Chinese
Iris in Chinese is 艾瑞丝 (Ài Ruì Sī).
- Origin
- Greek; also used through the flower name
- Meaning
- rainbow; also associated with the iris flower
Iris comes from the Greek word for rainbow and is the name of the rainbow goddess in Greek mythology. A bearer may also be named for the flower. These connections can inform a Chinese choice, but a sound-based spelling and a botanical translation serve different purposes.
3 ways to write Iris
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
艾瑞丝
Ài Ruì Sī
A sound-based rendering for Iris: 艾: Chinese mugwort; used in transliteration; 瑞: auspicious; lucky; 丝: silk.
Why these characters?
艾 approximates the English eye opening, 瑞 supplies a loose ri-like middle, and 丝 carries the final s into a full syllable. The result has three Mandarin syllables. Mugwort, good fortune and silk are character associations rather than the Greek meaning rainbow.
Character breakdown
24 strokes total (simplified)- 艾
ài
Tone 4 · 6 strokes (simplified)
Chinese mugwort; used in transliteration
- 瑞
ruì
Tone 4 · 13 strokes (simplified)
auspicious; lucky
- 丝
sī
Tone 1 · 5 strokes (simplified)
silk
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
晴虹
Qíng Hóng
A meaning-based suggestion for Iris: 晴: clear; fine weather; 虹: rainbow.
Why these characters?
虹 directly preserves the rainbow image, while 晴 adds a clear-weather setting. This is a newly composed personal-name suggestion, not the Chinese word for the iris flower or an official name for the Greek goddess.
Character breakdown
21 strokes total (simplified)- 晴
qíng
Tone 2 · 12 strokes (simplified)
clear; fine weather
- 虹
hóng
Tone 2 · 9 strokes (simplified)
rainbow
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
艾虹
Ài Hóng
A sound-and-meaning adaptation for Iris: 艾: Chinese mugwort; used in transliteration; 虹: rainbow.
Why these characters?
艾 retains a cue to English eye and 虹 states the rainbow association. The final ris sounds are replaced by hóng, so this option balances one opening sound with meaning rather than attempting the full pronunciation.
Character breakdown
15 strokes total (simplified)- 艾
ài
Tone 4 · 6 strokes (simplified)
Chinese mugwort; used in transliteration
- 虹
hóng
Tone 2 · 9 strokes (simplified)
rainbow
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Recommended surnames
Chinese family names come first. Choose an optional surname to pair with each given-name style. Sound and meaning suggestions are starting points, not exact translations.
More surnames
All 35 surnames in this collection.
No surname selected. Given-name styles are shown above.
Rainbow and flower are related associations, not interchangeable translations
The Greek source gives Iris a rainbow meaning; the same name can be chosen through the flower. A family’s reason for using the name need not be identical to its oldest linguistic explanation. 晴虹 follows the rainbow route. It would be misleading to call these two characters the botanical Chinese name of an iris plant simply because the English name can refer to one.
晴 contributes fine weather, an addition made for this Chinese suggestion. 虹 carries the central image on its own. Together they evoke a rainbow against a clearing sky, rather than specifying a flower variety or retelling the goddess’s role. Someone named after a particular garden flower can keep that family story even if they choose the sound-based option instead.
Keep the English eye sound distinct from Mandarin yi
English Iris starts with the vowel heard in eye. 艾瑞丝 uses ài to approach that opening; choosing a Mandarin yi syllable would create a different sound. Other languages pronounce the spelling Iris differently, so this proposal starts from the English reading used on this page. 瑞 and 丝 then spread the rest of the name over two further syllables.
艾虹 is shorter because it removes that middle-and-ending approximation altogether. A listener hears ài hóng, not a shortened pronunciation of 艾瑞丝. Its second character makes the rainbow connection visible without requiring the dictionary meanings of 艾, 瑞 and 丝 to form a sentence. In traditional writing only the phonetic candidate changes, to 艾瑞絲; the rainbow-based proposals keep their written forms.
Recent US usage of Iris
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Iris ranked 81 among names recorded for girls, with 17,499 registrations in that group across the period. These are US birth-name records, rather than search counts or a ranking of Chinese names. The period covers part of a decade; it is not a final ranking for the whole 2020s.
Compare the dated figures in the SSA’s official 2020s name table. This snapshot was checked on 2026-10-15; any historical figures on this page describe their own stated period.
Sources and naming notes
The references below support the original name’s history. The meaning-based and balanced Chinese candidates are suggestions made for this entry, rather than translations endorsed by those references. Character glosses use the dictionary attribution in the footer.
Similar or related meanings
Explore names with a similar meaning or a connection to Iris. Their origins and Chinese name candidates can differ; open each page to compare the meanings and naming choices: Ivy, Lily.
More About Iris in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Iris offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Iris, you'll find options that work for you.
Names with the same root meaning include Ivy in Chinese, and Lily in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Ivy in Chinese, Lily in Chinese, and Paisley in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Delilah in Chinese, Everly in Chinese, Josephine in Chinese, Alice in Chinese, and Kinsley in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Iris, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Iris to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
Does Iris mean flower or rainbow?
Its Greek meaning is rainbow, while a bearer may also be named in reference to the iris flower.
Is 晴虹 the Chinese botanical name for an iris?
No. It is a personal-name suggestion combining fine weather and rainbow imagery.
Why does 艾瑞丝 have three syllables?
It distributes the English sounds across ài, ruì and sī; Mandarin does not preserve the English final consonant sequence unchanged.
Related names and spelling variants
Adeline
阿德琳
French and English, from a Germanic noble-name family
Alice
爱丽丝
English and French, from a Germanic name family
Clara
克拉拉
Latin feminine form of Clarus
Delilah
德莱拉
Hebrew, used in biblical and English traditions
Eloise
埃洛伊丝
English via Old French Héloïse, probably from Germanic Helewidis
Everly
埃弗莉
English place-name surname
Ivy
艾薇
English nature name
Josephine
约瑟芬
English form of French Joséphine, from Hebrew Joseph
Kinsley
金斯莉
English surname and place name used as a given name
Lainey
莱妮
English short-name family of Elaine, ultimately Greek
Lily
莉莉
English
Paisley
佩斯莉
English usage from a Scots surname and place name