Irene
Irene: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /aɪˈɹiːn/ · /aɪˈɹiːni/
Meaning and origin of Irene
- A female given name from Ancient Greek, in regular use since the 19th century.
Etymology
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.
How popular is Irene?
Since 1880, 355,462 girls and 1,350 boys in the U.S. have been named Irene (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #16 in 1918. Its highest rank for boys was #543 in 1901. In 2025 it ranked #651 for girls, with 442 babies given the name.
Names similar to Irene
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Greek girl names
Sibling name ideas for Irene
Sister and brother names that share Irene's Greek roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Irene FAQ
What does the name Irene mean?
A female given name from Ancient Greek, in regular use since the 19th century. 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.
What is the origin of the name Irene?
Irene is listed as a name of Greek origin.
How popular is the name Irene?
Since 1880, 355,462 girls and 1,350 boys in the U.S. have been named Irene (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #16 in 1918. Its highest rank for boys was #543 in 1901. In 2025 it ranked #651 for girls, with 442 babies given the name.
Is Irene a boy or girl name?
Irene is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 355,462 girls and 1,350 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.