Irène is the French form of Irene. It derives from the Greek name Εἰρήνη (Eirene), which means "peace" and was the name of the Greek goddess of peace, one of the Horai. The name was borne by several early Christian saints and was especially common in the Byzantine Empire, notably by an 8th-century empress who ruled alone after deposing her son. Cultural Context Irène has been a classic in French-speaking countries, maintaining steady popularity. Variants include Irena in Slovenian, Iryna in Ukrainian, Irina in Russian, and Irénée. Croatian has the short form Ena. Usage The name is exclusively feminine. In Sweden, the French-style spelling Irène also appears. Meaning: peace Origin: Greek, via French Type: Feminine given name Usage regions: Primarily French-speaking countries