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Irena
♀ Girl
Pronounced ee-REH-nah /iˈrɛ.nɑ/Medium
Meaning: Slavic form of Irene — Greek eirene, 'peace'High
In 30 seconds: Peace, in soft Slavic: Irena is the Polish and Czech Irene — 'peace' — borne by heroine Irena Sendler. Serene, classic, and brave.
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MeaningSlavic form of Irene — Greek eirene, 'peace'
U.S. rank (2025)#5305 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births24 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,186
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Irena is the Slavic form of Irene — from Greek eirene, 'peace' (a goddess of peace). Borne by the heroic Irena Sendler, it's a serene, classic name across Poland and the Slavic world.
In the U.S. it appears in Slavic families. Rare, peace at the root, and serene.
Did you know? Irena Sendler saved thousands of children during WWII — a name from Greek eirene, 'peace'; Irena is its beloved Slavic form.
Overall data confidence 85%
Behind the Name — Irena — etymology
Variations
IreneIrynaIrina
Nicknames
IraRena
Famous Bearers
- ★Irena Sendler (1910-2008)Polish humanitarian who rescued approximately 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II
- ★Irena Szewińska (1946-2018)Polish sprinter and long jumper who won seven Olympic medals across five Olympic Games
- ★Irena Grafenauer (1957-)Slovenian classical flutist recognized as one of the leading flautists of her generation
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By meaningPeace
Frequently Asked
What does the name Irena mean?
Irena is the Slavic Irene, Greek for 'peace'.
How do you pronounce Irena?
It's said ee-REH-nah /iˈrɛ.nɑ/ — three syllables, stress on the second.
Is Irena a boy or girl name?
Irena is a girl's name.
How popular is Irena?
Irena is a rare name in the U.S.