The story behind Irene
Borrowed from French Irène, from Ancient Greek Εἰρήνη (Eirḗnē, “peace”), name of a goddess of peace, of early Christian saints, and of an 8th-century Byzantine empress. Doublet of Eirini.
Other language forms and explanations (7)
Dutch entry
From Ancient Greek Εἰρήνη (Eirḗnē, “peace”).
Finnish entry
From Ancient Greek Εἰρήνη (Eirḗnē, “peace”).
German entry
From Ancient Greek Εἰρήνη (Eirḗnē, “peace”).
Italian entry
From Ancient Greek Εἰρήνη (Eirḗnē, “peace”).
Portuguese entry
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Εἰρήνη (Eirḗnē).
Spanish entry
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Εἰρήνη (Eirḗnē, “peace”).
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from English Irene, from Ancient Greek Εἰρήνη (Eirḗnē).
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /aɪˈɹiːn/
Regional pronunciation variants
- English; dialect unspecified: /aɪˈɹiːni/
- Dutch: /ˌiˈreː.nə/
- Finnish: /ˈirene/
- Finnish: [ˈire̞ne̞]
- German: /iˈʁeːnə/
- Italian: /iˈrɛ.ne/
- Portuguese; Brazil: /iˈɾe.ni/
- Portuguese; Portugal: /iˈɾɛ.nɨ/
- Spanish: /iˈɾene/
- Spanish: [iˈɾe.ne]
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ʔajˈɾin/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ʔaɪ̯ˈɾɪn̪]
Popularity
Irene ranked #651 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Irene
Irénée
From Latin Irenaeus, from Ancient Greek Εἰρηναῖος (Eirēnaîos), from εἰρήνη (eirḗnē, “peace”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Iride
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἶρις (Îris, “the messenger of the gods”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Iside
From Latin Īsidem, from Ancient Greek Ἶσις (Îsis), from Egyptian st-t (ꜣst).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ismene
From Ancient Greek Ἰσμήνη (Ismḗnē).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Achille
Borrowed from Latin Achilles.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adone
From Ancient Greek Ἄδωνις (Ádōnis).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Irene
Abelus
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), itself from Biblical Hebrew הֶ֫בֶל (heḇel). The vowel, while short by etymology, is shown to be carrying stress by the descended…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abraham
Middle English Abraham English Abraham From Middle English Abraham, from Old English Abraham, from Late Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m), from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Irene
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abby
Borrowed from English Abby in the 20th century. Borrowed from English Abby.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length