Girl · #1,498 in 2026

Irina

Irina or Iryna is a feminine given name of Ancient Greek origin, commonly borne by followers of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is derived from Eirene, an ancient Greek goddess, personification of peace. It is mostly used in countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Balkans.

  • Russian
  • Bulgarian
  • Macedonian
  • Romanian
Current Rank
#1,498
Peak Rank
#1,498 (2026)
Total Babies
3K
5-Yr Trend
+34%
1944
First Year
2026
Last Year
2026
Peak Year
#1498
Peak Rank
3K
Total Count
66
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Irina

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Irina or Iryna is a feminine given name of Ancient Greek origin, commonly borne by followers of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is derived from Eirene, an ancient Greek goddess, personification of peace. It is mostly used in countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Balkans.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • Russian
  • Bulgarian
  • Macedonian
  • Romanian
  • Georgian
  • Finnish
  • Estonian
  • Latvian
Origin & history
Irina is connected with Irene of Macedonia [ ru ] who was the first woman recognized by the church as a great martyr . She was born pagan as Penelope and later baptized as Irene. Some sources refer to her being baptized by Saint Timothy , in which case she lived in the 1st–2nd century, while others date her death in the year 315. Opinions also differ about the location of her birthplace, the city of Magedon, placing it either in Persia or in Migdonia ( Macedonia ).

The Story of Irina

The earliest SSA record of Irina as a baby girl name dates back to 1944, when 5 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 145 newborns named Irina — #1,498 in the national rankings. About 34% of every Irina on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Irina ranks #1,498 for baby girls with 145 births, rising sharply (+34% over the past five years). All told, over 3K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1940s to the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
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Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Variants & Related Forms of Irina

Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Irina. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Names that sound like Irina

Phonetically similar names — useful when Irina is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Irina

What does the name Irina mean?
Irina or Iryna is a feminine given name of Ancient Greek origin, commonly borne by followers of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is derived from Eirene, an ancient Greek goddess, personification of peace. It is mostly used in countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Balkans.
What is the origin of the name Irina?
Irina has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: Russian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Romanian, Georgian, Finnish, Estonian, Latvian.
How popular is Irina in 2026?
In 2026, Irina ranks #1,498 among girls' names in the U.S., with 145 babies given the name that year.
When was Irina most popular?
Irina reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #1,498 that year with 145 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Irina most popular?
Irina has historically been most popular in Oregon, Washington, Virginia. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Irina.
Is Irina a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Irina is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Irina?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Irina include Merita, Sherrye, Jamilah. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.
What are nicknames or variants of Irina?
Common variants and related forms of Irina include Arina, Arisha, Arja, Erja, Ira, Irena. These cover foreign-language equivalents, alternate spellings, and short forms.

Similar Names

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Sherrye
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Jamilah
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Exa
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Genia
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Vona
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About the name Irina

Irina is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1944 and has accumulated 3K births in the dataset. Irina's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,498. Use the chart and map above to compare Irina's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.