Irene

Peace.

Irene is a feminine name of Greek origin meaning “peace”. Its older Greek form, Eirene, also names the personification of peace. In ancient imagery Eirene holds the child Ploutos, representing prosperity: a particularly tender picture of peace allowing life to flourish. The spelling travels more easily than the sound. English Irene can be /aɪ.ˈɹin/, with two syllables and a silent final E; a three-syllable English form also exists. German /i.ˈʁeː.nə/ and Spanish /i.ˈɾe.ne/ both have three syllables, with a sounded ending. The difference matters when a family uses more than one language: it changes the rhythm considerably while leaving the meaning intact. That peace meaning gives Irene a gentle undertone, and the old Greek connection lends it a classical feel. The two-syllable English version is more contained; the three-syllable versions let the ending unfold. Saying those forms aloud can reveal whether it is the spare outline or the flowing cadence that draws you to the name.

Etymology: Irene comes from Greek Eirene, Εἰρήνη, a name formed from the word for peace. Eirene was also the divine personification of peace in Greek tradition.