Origin, Meaning, And History of Irene
The name Irene is of Greek origin and means “peace.” Eirene, the daughter of Zeus and Themis, was the goddess of peace in Greek mythology. Irene has a long history and has been used in many different cultures. The name symbolizes positivity, goodwill, and unity.
It was a popular name among early Christians, and several saints were named Irene. Saint Irene of Rome is believed to have tended to the wounds of Saint Sebastian when he was shot with arrows for his belief in Christianity.
Some biblical scholars contend that the name Irene may have been used to allude to the peace of Christ. “Peace” is frequently translated from the Greek word “Eirene” in the New Testament.
艾琳became popular in countries other than Greece, including Italy, Spain, and Portugal. It was introduced to the English-speaking world in the 16th century and gained popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries. It was prevalent in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s, peaking in popularity in 1920 as the 28th most popular girl’s name. Its popularity has since declined, but it remains a classic name.
Irena (Eastern Europe), Irina (Russia, Bulgaria, and other countries in Eastern Europe), Eirene (Greek), Eireen (English-speaking countries), Ireen (English-speaking countries), Yrene (Spanish-speaking countries), Irene (French), Iren (Hungarian), and Aireen (Filipino) are just a few of the many variations of the name Irene.
A few examples of nicknames used for the name Irene include Ren, Reenie, Iri, Rina, Ena, Iya, Rin, Irenie, Aya, and Ina.
A few fictional characters named Irene include艾琳Adler,a character in the Sherlock Holmes stories,艾琳Roberts,from the Australian soap opera “Home and Away,”艾琳Belserion, a character in the anime and manga series “Fairy Tail,” and艾琳Kelly, a character in a series of mystery novels by Jan Burke.
How To Pronounce Irene?
Famous People With The Name Irene
- 艾琳BedardAn American actress and a Golden Globe award nominee, famous for the role of Suzy Song in the film Smoke Signals
- 艾琳DunneAmerican actress, singer, and philanthropist, who was nominated five times for the Academy Award
- 艾琳EmeryAn American art historian, modern dancer, textile anthropologist, and sculptor
- 艾琳HuntAn American writer known to write children’s books, and a Newbery medal winner for her book “Up a road slowly”
- 艾琳SklivaA Greek model and a crowned Miss World 1996 in India
艾琳On The Popularity Chart
The name Irene has experienced varying levels of popularity over time. Find graphs that explain the trends in-depth.
Popularity Over Time
根据社会保障Administration, the number of babies per million named Irene has declined significantly over the past few decades. The graph below depicts the variations precisely.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Though the ranking has declined over the past two decades, it is still a well-loved and enduring name and continues to be used by many parents around the world.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Irene
These names that resemble Irene may also appeal to you if you like the way it sounds.
Popular Sibling Names For Irene
Other Popular Names Beginning With I
Names With Similar Meaning As Irene
If the meaning of the name Irene appealed to you, but you’re seeking other possibilities, take a look at this list of names with similar meanings:
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
irene
In Sign Language
irene
In Braille Alphabet
irene
In Morse Code
irene
Name Numerology For Irene
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Irene?
The name Irene means ‘peace.’
2. What is the origin of the name Irene?
艾琳has a Greek origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Irene?
艾琳is pronounced as ai-reen.
4. How common is the name Irene?
艾琳is a popular baby girl name. In 2022, 440 US babies in the US had the name. Furthermore, it had an impressive ranking of 677, which makes it one of the top 1000 US baby names (1).
5. What is a masculine name for Irene?
艾琳is a popular feminine name rooted in Italian culture. Hence, some Italian masculine variants of the name are Ireno, Irenio, and Ireneo.
6. Is Irene an old name?
Since its usage has been recorded since the 19th century, Irene can be considered an old or traditional name. It is an anglicized variation of the Greek Eirēnē, a Greek goddess of peace. Some early saints, such as Saint Irene of Rome, have also borne this name. So, the name carries a timeless traditional charm.
References:
- Popularity of name Irene.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
