Irene is of Greek origin, meaning "peace". It was brought to prominence through the saint of the same name, who was a martyr in the late fourth century. The name Irene has been popular throughout history, particularly in Europe. In France, it was one of the top 10 female names in the mid-20th century. Variations of Irene include Irina, Irena, and Renée. It can be paired with a variety of middle names, such as Irene Margaret or Irene Sophia. The name Irene has been used by several notable individuals, including Irene Adler, a character from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, and Irene Papas, a Greek actress known for her role in the film "Zorba the Greek".
"Over the span of nearly a century and a half, from 1888 to 2023, the name Irene has seen varying popularity with a total of 1350 births recorded across these years. The number of annual births fluctuated considerably, ranging from as few as 5 (in several years) to a peak of 43 in 1928. After the 1960s, the name's usage became less frequent, with most years seeing fewer than 10 births each."