Meaning:
Its source is Eirene, a Greek name meaning "Peace."
Narrative:
This was the name of the Greek goddess of peace. Until the 20th century, it was commonly pronounced in three syllables (i-REE-nee).
This was changed through the combined popularity of a series of two-syllable influences: dancer Irene Castle (1893-1969), a popular musical comedy called Irene, and Goodnight, Irene, a plaintive folk ballad by Leadbelly (Huddie Ledbetter, 1888-1949).
Multiple Tony Award-winning actress Irene Worth (born Hattie Adams in 1916) is a notable preserver of the three-syllable pronunciation.
