Irena
Fact sheet
- Name
- Irena
- Gender
- Girl name
- Syllables
- 3
The first name Irena is a Slavic variant of the name Irene and is also used in the form Írena in Icelandic. The meaning of the name is 'the peaceful one' or 'the tranquil one,' derived from the ancient Greek word eirene, which means 'peace, harmony.' The name originally refers to Eirene, a goddess of peace from Greek mythology and daughter of Zeus.
What does the name Irena mean?
Irena is a female first name with Slavic roots and is a variant of Irene in the Icelandic spelling Írena. The name means 'the peaceful one' or 'the tranquil one' and originates from the ancient Greek term eirene, which stands for 'peace, harmony.' The name refers to Eirene, a goddess of peace in Greek mythology, who is considered the daughter of Zeus. There are numerous variants of Irena or Irene, including Airin (Scandinavian), Airine (Lithuanian), Arina (Russian), Ayrin, Eyrin (Irish), Ira (short form), Ireen (English), Iren (Hungarian), Irina (Russian, Bulgarian), Irini (Greek), Irja (Finnish), Irka (Polish, Czech), Iryna (Belarusian, Ukrainian), and Iria (Spanish, Portuguese).
Where does the name Irena come from?
The origin of the name Irena traces back to ancient Greek, where it carries the meaning 'the peaceful one' or 'the tranquil one.' The ancient Greek word eirene stands for 'peace, harmony.' The name is used in various languages, including Albanian, Bulgarian, Greek, Icelandic, Croatian, Lithuanian, Eastern European, Polish, Serbian, Slavic, Slovak, Sorbian, and Czech.
How do you pronounce Irena?
The pronunciation of the name Irena is three syllables and features a gentle structure. In the German language, the name is usually pronounced as 'I-re-na' [iˈʁeːna]. The name begins with a clear I sound that conveys lightness. The long E in the middle brings brightness to the sound, while the open A resonates warmly. Irena thus radiates a calm elegance – harmonious, clear, and sonically balanced.
When is the name day of Irena?
The name day for Irena is celebrated on January 22, February 21, April 1, May 5, August 9, and October 20.
Popularity
Irena is among the popular first names in Germany, currently ranking 1,418th on the list of most common female first names. Its best placement was in 1953 when it ranked 183rd. In the last ten years, Irena has been chosen as a first name about 210 times, placing it 1,558th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, Irena ranks 1,630th.
Nicknames & pet names
Eirina / Ena / Ira / Irenchen / Iri / Irinka / Irka / Rena / Renchen / Reni
Similar first names
Famous people
- Irena Anders (Polish actress)
- Irena Brezna (Slovak writer)
- Irena Chalmers (writer from England)
- Irena Dubiska (Polish violinist)
- Irena Dubska (Czech philosopher)
- Irena Eichlerowna (Polish actress)
- Irena Homola-Skapska (Polish historian)
- Irena Jarocka (Polish singer)
- Irena Karpa (actress from Great Britain)
- Irena Kühn (Polish writer)
- Irena Kwiatkowska (actress from Poland)
- Irena Latinik-Vetulani (biologist from Poland)
- Irena Martinkova (football player from Czech Republic)
- Irena Mikocziova (Czech table tennis player)
- Irena Nawrocka (Polish fencer)
- Irena Pantelic (Dutch model)
- Irena Patkova (Czech badminton player)
- Irena Pawelczyk (rower from Poland)
- Irena Rüther-Rabinowicz (German painter)
- Irena Saline (French film director)
Frequently asked questions about the name Irena
What does the name Irena mean?
Irena means 'the peaceful one' or 'the tranquil one' and originates from the ancient Greek term eirene, which stands for 'peace, harmony.'
Where does the name Irena come from?
The name Irena has its roots in ancient Greek and is used in many languages, including Bulgarian, Greek, Polish, and Serbian.
Is Irena a popular name?
Irena enjoys great popularity in various countries, especially in Eastern Europe, and has numerous variants and forms.