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Irene

Girl name · 386 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Irene: 386 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 58 births in 1974.

From the Greek Eirene, meaning “peace,” Irene was the name of the ancient Greek goddess of peace, one of the Horae. The name became widespread in the Christian world through several early saints, most notably Saint Irene of Macedonia. The most famous modern bearer was probably the American actress Irene Dunne, a five-time Academy Award nominee. In Scottish history, Irene is less common than elsewhere but was given a modest boost by the popularity of the actress Irene Vanbrugh. Places named for the goddess include the Greek island of Iria, while the name also appears in the city of Irene in South Africa. A notable variant is the Russian form Irina, made famous by tennis star Irina Tursunova—though the Scottish pronunciation tends to keep the simpler two-syllable “eye-reen.”