Origin and Meaning of Irene
Meaning & Origin
Peace
Origin: Greek - Derived from the Greek word 'eirene', which signifies 'peace'.
Interesting Facts
- Irene has been associated with the Greek goddess of peace, also named Irene, who was one of the Horae in Greek mythology.
- The name has variations in other languages, including Irena (Czech and Polish), Irina (Russian), and Eirene (ancient Greek).
- Notable bearers of the name include Irene Adler, a character from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series, and Irene Joliot-Curie, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist.
- Irene saw a popularity peak in the early 20th century, especially in English-speaking countries, although it has seen a decline in recent decades.
- Related names include Ireena, Irma, and other variants like Irine and Eirene.