Irene
Irene is a Christian girl name of Greek origin, meaning “Peace”.
| Meaning | Peace |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Greek |
| Written as | Εἰρήνη |
| Pronunciation | eye-REEN |
| Tradition | Christian |
| Used in | Greece, Spain, Italy, United States |
Meaning and origin of Irene
Irene comes from Greek Eirene, 'peace', the name of the goddess who personified peace. Early Christians adopted it, and it was borne by several saints and by the Byzantine Empress Irene, who presided over the restoration of icons in 787. In English it is pronounced either 'eye-REEN' or, especially in Britain formerly, 'eye-REE-nee'. It was very popular in the early twentieth century.
Is Irene a Christian name?
Irene is a Christian name in both the Orthodox and Catholic worlds, carried by saints such as the martyr Irene of Thessalonica, and its meaning 'peace' echoes Christian greetings.
How popular is Irene?
Classic across Europe; used less for babies in English-speaking countries today.
Gifts with the name Irene
- Irene name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Irene baby gifts (Amazon)
- Christian baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Irene
Names similar to Irene
More Christian girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Irene mean?
Irene means 'Peace'. It is of Greek origin.
Is Irene a Christian name?
Irene is a Christian name in both the Orthodox and Catholic worlds, carried by saints such as the martyr Irene of Thessalonica, and its meaning 'peace' echoes Christian greetings.
How do you pronounce Irene?
Irene is pronounced eye-REEN.
Is Irene a boy or girl name?
Irene is usually a girl name.