[name]How[/name] “old” does the name sound to you? I love old-fashioned names, but what I’m hesitating on is whether this name is really too old-lady for me. I’ve met little Pearls and Beatrices, and they wear their names well, but for some reason I’m having a hard time imagining [name]Iris[/name] on my baby girl. Convince me that it works on a little girl!
Not too old, I’d give it a 7.
I don’t generally like old-fashioned “old lady” names, but I actually really like [name]Iris[/name]. I don’t know exactly why, but it just sounds really pretty to me, I think a little girl could definitely wear it and it wouldn’t feel old at all.
I give it a five. If you look at the history of the name it peaked around the top 200 names around 1930. Currently it is sitting around the top 300s and it is still climbing. [name]Flower[/name] names and vintage names are trendy now so it seems to make it more current. I really like [name]Iris[/name]. It is pretty and has a nice meaning. I like names that start with the letter I because they seems to be more refreshing with all the Os, Es and As that are running around. I also like [name]Ivy[/name].
I give it 8.
It doesn’t really sound ‘old-lady’ to me at all- [name]Pearl[/name] and [name]Beatrice[/name] much more so!
It’s got the single consonants and open vowels that are the preferred sounds of current parents ([name]Iris[/name] sounds more like [name]Isla[/name], [name]Ava[/name], or [name]Alice[/name] than [name]Maud[/name], [name]Bertha[/name], or [name]Nelda[/name]), plus in addition to being a floral name (like current favourites [name]Lily[/name], [name]Violet[/name], and [name]Rose[/name]) it’s also a name from Greek mythology (like [name]Chloe[/name], [name]Zoe[/name], [name]Phoebe[/name], [name]Selena[/name], [name]Penelope[/name]…) and [name]Shakespeare[/name]'s [name]Tempest[/name] (like [name]Miranda[/name] and [name]Ariel[/name]). Not just an ‘old lady’ by any means 
I love [name]Iris[/name]. There’s a good possibility my future daughter will be [name]Iris[/name]. It’s a 10.
I see [name]Iris[/name] as young and fun. I give it a 9 
Thanks to all who replied! I’d love to hear more feedback, even if you think it’s way too old-lady.
The thing about [name]Iris[/name] and many other old-fashioned names is that they don’t sound as melodious as some of your examples. The Greek names you listed are very - for lack of a better word - melodious. They are non- frilly yet pleasing to the ear. [name]Iris[/name] may be the right name for our daughter, but I wish it were a tad softer. Perhaps the s at the end makes it sound more old-fashioned - in that way it’s more like [name]Agnes[/name], [name]Beatrice[/name], and [name]Alice[/name]. [name]Beatrice[/name] ([name]Bea[/name]) and [name]Alice[/name] ([name]Ali[/name]) also have great natural nicknames that work for a young girl - [name]Iris[/name], not so much.
I love [name]Iris[/name] too! But it doesnt work for us due to hubby not liking it and pronounciation problems from family members.
It doesnt sound old-ladyisch to me…
I like it for the flower. I would rate it a 7 or 8 out of 10.
I have struggled with this exact issue. My only drawback to using [name]Iris[/name] is that it seems “harsh.” My love for it will probably overcome this reservation, but I definitely know what you’re talking about. I wish [name]Iris[/name] was softer also.
I adore [name]Iris[/name]! I don’t think it sounds old at all, it’s my three year old niece’s first middle name and I love everything about it. I’d give it a nine.
I love [name]Iris[/name]! It seems more timeless than old-fashioned to me. The only [name]Iris[/name] I know is probably my mom’s age, but it’s considered for girls so much these days that it just feels timeless to me. I’d rate it about a seven or eight–probably not something I’d use, but I absolutely adore it and would be tickled pink to see it used.
Good luck!
I think its pretty and its kinda pointless to say maybe but I know a mexican couple who named their daughter [name]Iris[/name] but they pronounce it E-Ris (The spanish pronounciation) and I think that it is so lovely! Anyone traditional or spanish either way its very pretty and not old lady-ish at all to me. It kinda sounds like your really having doubts though. If its not a name you absolutely love don’t use it! You’ll regret it believe me I know.
… Guess I should’ve said American or Spanish but you get the drift…
I love [name]Iris[/name] and would rate it a 10! I actually have a teenage cousin named [name]Iris[/name].
She didn’t like her name for a while, (“I’m the only person in Arkansas named [name]Iris[/name]”) but she’s grown into it for sure. It’s a lovely name that deserves more love!
ehh id give it a 4 - not really to my liking
I know, right? If [name]Iris[/name] could only be a little more like [name]Isla[/name]…yet still be [name]Iris[/name]. Or, as bigfaithmomma pointed out, if it were more typical to pronounce it E-ris, it would lose some of its edge.
I think if we went with [name]Iris[/name], I wouldn’t regret it, but it’s a little harder to commit to than some other favorites. We also like [name]Charlotte[/name], which we may nix due to popularity, as well as [name]Phoebe[/name] and [name]Penelope[/name], which - there’s my thing for melodious and non-frilly. The problem is that we have waited so long to have a second that we now know kids with all the names we like except for [name]Iris[/name], and oddly we don’t know any Charlottes either.
I would be thrilled to meet an [name]Iris[/name], and I do think it’s beautiful. [name]Just[/name] not sure I can picture it for our child!
Oh interesting! I don’t hear [name]Iris[/name] as harsh at all (E-ris sounds much less melodious to me, in fact). I also like that [name]Iris[/name] is feminine yet no-nonsense.
Are you considering other names, or looking for some new ones? I have a list of feminine non-frillies that I’m more than happy to share