The name Irene is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "peace". Irene is ranked #637 on our popularity charts and is often added to lists like Mythology Girl Names and discussed in our forums with posts like "What would you name a sibling to...?".
From the experts:
Serene Irene, the name of the Greek goddess of peace and one of the most familiar Greek goddess names, was hugely popular in ancient Rome and again in the United States a hundred years ago.
One of the most popular names of the Roman Empire and the name of several early saints, this originally Greek name (then spelled Eirene) represented a daughter of Zeus who was the goddess of peace. Often pronounced with three syllables, it spread throughout Europe in a range of variations and is a royal name in Greece, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
Much of Irene's popularity in England stemmed from the character Irene Forsyte in Galsworthy's The Forsyte Saga (pronounced eye-reen-ee). Americans identified it with the sparkling Irene Dunne of Hollywood's Golden Age. Irene was a Top 20 name from 1915 to 1925, remaining in the Top 100 until 1945. It still highly popular in Spain.
Some other references include the eponymous early smash hit Broadway musical, famed ballroom dancer Irene Castle (portrayed on film by Ginger Rogers), the Hollywood costume designer known simply as Irene, the Uma Thurman character in Gattaca, Irene Denholm the Harry Potter student at Hogwarts School, and the lullaby-ready song Goodnight, Irene.
Lists containing Irene
- Magical Christmas Baby Names
- Greek Baby Names for Modern Kids
- Saints' Names for Girls
- Names That Mean Peace
- Classic Girl Names
- Names with Uplifting Meanings
- Popular Italian Baby Names
- Top Italian Baby Names
- Mythology Girl Names
- Goddess Names for Babies
- Cool Baby Names That Start With I
- April Baby Names
Irene in Blog Posts
Irene in the Forums
16 names similar to Irene
These 16 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Irene. If you didn't find an alternative name that you like better than Irene, try our name generator. It allows you to go beyond the similarities of a name, which can provide a lot of inspiration!
Comments
kankhen Says:
VanessaLily7 Says:
I like this name but prefer ai-ree-nee as its pronunciation
mamanmia Says:
makes me think of Irena Sendler, a great namesake
lesliemarion Says:
I've recently come to love this name. I like what headintheclouds said about it earlier. It manages to be both a low drama name and yet a strong, classic beauty.
BBear Says:
nobody has to know...
morning_glory Says:
I prefer Eirene, which seems sweeter and more . . . child-like, perhaps? Though I do like Irene, despite the fact that it always makes me think of female Russian agents!
Wittyusername103 Says:
I love this name a lot.
r_and_om_n_ess Says:
Is it bad to name a child Irene because of Minecraft Diaries?
Yippy4Skippy Says:
My daughter's name. She was named after my grandmother. It's strong but feminine, classy and smart. I admit I'm biased though. ;)
headintheclouds Says:
I think of serene in relation to Irene, which rather suits its meaning of peace too. Also has a queenly regal vibe, and a touch of old Hollywood glamor as well. Irene's lovely- has a quiet and steadfast strength and dignity as its charm. You get the feeling that an Irene would be gentle-seeming but have a spine of steel, and be the ultimate boss when it comes to tough situations.
Jinxgirl Says:
Irene is a strong, serious name, a good choice for a middle name. It can be lightened up by calling a child Irie or Rena.
Daiseymae Says:
I like this name, and it reminds me of film great actress Irene Dunne.
scblovesnames Says:
Mother in laws middle name and a consideration for the middle name spot for a future daughter.
LcLauver Says:
In the U.S. and most english speaking countries it's pronounce eye-reen but I know in Portuguese, & maybe in Greek as well, it's pronounced E-Rain-E ...i'm sure there are more since it is an old name.
Theodora_Phoenix Says:
This name was considered for me, but my parents picked something different.
Ruanne Says:
Don't forget the Sherlock Holmes reference, the character Irene Adler from "A Scandal in Bohemia." She was the one woman who outwitted the great detective, for which she had his (very bregudging) respect.
AnonymousPerson Says:
Is this pronounced "eye-reen" or "ih-ray-na"?
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Irène is a beautiful name. It feels strong and badass while also being elegant. The English spelling Irene is pretty too.