Entry № 0854 · Greek origin

Iphis Iphis — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ EE-fis /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Greek
Meaning
"Strength (Cretan girl who became a man)"
Syllables
2
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Ancient (Greek)

A name that means "strength (cretan girl who became a man)".

Iphis (Ἶφις) is the Greek word for "strength." In Ovid's Metamorphoses Book 9, **Iphis was the Cretan girl raised as a boy by her mother to save her from infanticide** — on her wedding day to her female betrothed Ianthe, the goddess Isis transformed Iphis into a man so they could marry.

One of the earliest preserved tales of gender transformation in Western literature.

Strength. The Cretan girl transformed into a man on her wedding day.

The name in its native script.

Ἶφις
Transliteration
Îphis
Pronunciation
/ ˈiː.fɪs /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Iphis stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Iphis · last year
87 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
0
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · — NOW · —

Iphiss before her.

Real people
Iphis
Greek mythological figure.
In fiction
Iphis
Heroine of Ovid's Metamorphoses 9.
Ovid
Iphis
Ali Smith's novel Girl Meets Boy.
2007

Names connected to Iphis.

The number behind Iphis.

3

The Communicator

Iphis reduces to three — the number of Greek transformation.

Why families chose this name.

"Greek transformation. Five letters. Iphis."
Eleni · Mother of one · Crete