Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Irene
GirlGreek· “peace”
- Meaning
- peace
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- eye-REEN
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #651
- US babies 2025
- 442
- Best rank
- #16 (1918)
- Peak year
- 1921
Meaning and origin of Irene
Irene is a Greek name that means “peace”.
Irene comes from the Greek Eirene, meaning "peace". In Greek mythology Eirene was the goddess who personified peace, one of the Horae, the goddesses of the seasons. The name was popular among early Christians, and several saints bore it. Empress Irene of Athens ruled the Byzantine Empire in her own right in the eighth century. Irene became common in English-speaking countries in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and it is now enjoying renewed interest as a vintage classic. In English it can have two or three syllables. Rena and Reenie are nicknames.
Popularity over time
Irene has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #16 in 1918, and the most babies received it in 1921, when 10,624 were named Irene. In 2025, 442 babies were named Irene, and it ranked #651 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #17 in 1920, #92 in 1950, #291 in 1980, #459 in 2000, #695 in 2010, and #651 in 2025. Of the 355,462 US girls named Irene since records began, 26% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 68,968 babies. Since 2010, 7,165 more have been named Irene.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Lillian, Marjorie, Alice, Louise, and Gladys.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Irene ranked highest in Nebraska, California, and Oregon.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | #359 | 6 |
| California | #374 | 88 |
| Oregon | #410 | 9 |
| Connecticut | #425 | 7 |
| Minnesota | #441 | 12 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Irene is usually pronounced eye-REEN, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with I and ends in “-ne”.
Middle names for Irene
A few middle names that flow with Irene: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Irene
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Lists that include Irene
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Irene mean?
Irene is a Greek name that means “peace”.
What is the origin of the name Irene?
Irene has Greek roots. Irene comes from the Greek Eirene, meaning "peace".
Is Irene a popular name?
Yes. Irene ranked #651 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Irene a boy or girl name?
Irene is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Irene?
Irene is usually pronounced eye-REEN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings