Irene
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Irene
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.
Irene is also given to boys.
Pronounced eye-REEN; ih-RAY-nee.
As of October 2026, Irene ranked #651 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #16 in 1919, Nameberry popularity #166.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #663 | 432 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #629 | 453 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #659 | 444 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #588 | 508 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #639 | 466 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #633 | 469 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #620 | 472 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #674 | 438 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #661 | 448 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #675 | 435 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #638 | 461 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #651 | 442 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Irene for girls
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Irene.
Irene on lists
Famous Irenes
- IreneGirl
stage name of Bae Joohyun; rapper, dancer, singer, and leader of South Korean girl group Red Velvet
- Irene Marie DunneGirl
American actress
- Irene BordoniGirl
Corsican French singer
- Irene Cara (Escalera)Girl
American singer
- Irene CastleGirl
American ballroom dancer
- Irene JoliotGirl
Curie, French scientist, daughter of Marie Curie
- Irene Urdangarian y BourbonGirl
daughter of Infanta Cristina of Spain
- Irene (Lentz)Girl
American costume designer
- Irene VanbrughGirl
English actress
- Irene VernonGirl
American actress
- Irene Frances RichGirl
American actress
- Irene of AthensGirl
Byzantine Empress
- Irene PapasGirl
Greek actress
- Irene HandlGirl
English actress
- Irene Worth (born Harriet Elizabeth Abrams)Girl
American actress, pronounced it "eye,ree,nee"
- Irene Ryan (born Jessie Irene Noblett)Girl
American actress
- Irene AngelinaGirl
Queen consort of Sicily and Germany
- Irene MathyssenGirl
Canadian MP
- Irene MorganGirl
American civil rights activist
- Emily Irene VanCampGirl
Canadian actress
- (Sze) Irene NgGirl
Malaysian,born American actress
Irene in pop culture
- Irene AdlerGirl
character in Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series
- Irene Heron (pr. EyeGirl
ree,nee), character in John Galsworthy's Forsyte Saga
- Irene CassiniGirl
character in movie "Gattaca"
- Irene LorenzoGirl
character on TV's "All in the Family"
- Princess IreneGirl
character in "The Princess and the Goblin" by George MacDonald (pronounced eye,ree,nee in its 1991 film adaptation)
- Irene LaphamGirl
character in "The Rise of Silas Lapham" by William Dean Howells
- IreneGirl
Queen of Attolia, character in The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner
- Irene DenholmGirl
character in the Harry Potter series
- Irene FrederickGirl
character on TV's "Warehouse 13"
- Irene the ConciergeGirl
character on TV's "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody"
- Lady IreneGirl
character in Aphmau's YouTube series
- "IreneGirl
" 1940s movie
- Goodnight IreneGirl
American folk song
- IreneGirl
main character in The Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman
- Irene Larra GirónGirl
character on tv series "El Ministerio del Tiempo"
- Irene P. WatersGirl
character in the 2000 Jim Carrey movie "Me,Myself & Irene"