The nameIrena
Irena is the Slavic form of Irene. In France it was mostly given in the 1920s and 1930s.
- Girl's name
- Greek
- Feast day
Meaning
Like Irene, it comes from the Greek eirênê, "peace".
Origin
Greek, through Polish and the Slavic languages.
History
Irena came with the Polish families who settled in France after the First World War. It peaked in the early 1930s, then became rare.
Famous people named Irena
- Irena Sendler, Polish resistance member who saved children from the Warsaw Ghetto
Popularity of the name Irena
Irena in France
Irena was most popular in France in the 1930s, with 865 births over the decade, 41% of all recorded babies named Irena. Its rise began around 1923, and it peaked in 1931. Half of all babies named Irena in France were born before 1932, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name.
Irena in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Irena mean?
Like Irene, it comes from the Greek eirênê, "peace".
What is the origin of the name Irena?
Greek, through Polish and the Slavic languages.
Is Irena a girl's or a boy's name?
Irena is a girl's name.
Who are famous people named Irena?
Irena Sendler, Polish resistance member who saved children from the Warsaw Ghetto.