Irina or Iryna (Cyrillic: Ирина, Ірина) 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.
Diminutive forms in Slavic languages include Ira, Irynka, Irinushka, Irinochka, Irisha, Irka, Irochka, Irusia, Iraya, Irayna.
Origin Irina is connected with 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 Holy Great-Martyress Irene, Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, Baltimore, US
Notable people with this name
Nobility and politics
Princess Irina Alexandrovna of Russia (1895–1970) Iryna Akimova (born 1960), Ukrainian politician Irina Berezhna (1980–2017), Ukrainian politician Irina Belykh (born 1964), Russian politician Irina Cabezas (born 1971), Ecuadorian politician and educator Irina Dunn (born 1948), Australian politician Iryna Farion (born 1964), Ukrainian linguist and politician Irina Filatova (born 1978), Russian politician Iryna Friz (born 1974), Ukrainian politician Irina Ivenskikh, Russian politician Irina Khakamada (born 1955), Russian politician Iryna Konstankevych, Ukrainian politician Irina Kovalchuk (born 1989), Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast Irina Kozhanova (born 1987), Russian politician Irina Krohn (born 1962), Finnish politician Irina Davydovna Kuznetsova, Soviet-Latvian communist politician Irina Lozovan (born 1983), Moldovan politician Iryna Lutsenko, Ukrainian politician Irina Mikhailovna of Russia (1627–1679), Russian Tsarevna Irina Mikhailovna Raievskya (1892–1955), Russian and German noble Irina Molokanova, Transnistrian politician Irina Ovtchinnikova (1904–1990), Marquise de Monléon Irina Paley (1903–1990), daughter of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia Irina Panchenko (born 1968), Russian politician Irina Pankina, Russian politician Irina Petina (born 1972), Russian politician Irina Rodnina (born 1949), Russian politician and figure skater Irina Rozova (1958–2023), Lithuanian politician Irina Rukavishnikova (born 1973), Russian politician Iryna Sekh (born 1970), Ukrainian politician Irina Smirnova (born 1960), Kazakhstani politician Iryna Suslova (born 1988), Ukrainian politician Iryna Sysoyenko (born 1982), Ukrainian politician Iryna Venediktova (born 1978), Ukrainian politician Iryna Vereshchuk (born 1979), Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories Irina Vlah (born 1974), Moldovan politician Irina von Wiese (born 1967), British politician Irina Walker (born 1953), daughter of King Michael I of Romania Irina Yarovaya (born 1966), Russian jurist and politician Irina Yusupova (1915–1983), Russian princess Iryna Yefremova (born 1959), Ukrainian politician
Arts and music
Irina Allegrova (born 1952), Russian singer Irina Antonenko (born 1991), Miss Russia 2010 Irina Arkhipova (1925–2010), Soviet and Russian opera singer Irina Baldina (1922–2009), Russian artist Irina Belotelkin (1913–2009), Russian—American artist and fashion designer Irina Björklund (born 1973), Finnish actress and singer Irina Bogacheva (1939–2019), Russian opera singer Irina Bogushevskaya (born 1965), Russian singer Irina Brzhevskaya (1929–2019), Russian pop singer and soprano Iryna Vilyamivna Dats (born 1963), Ukrainian opera singer and theater director Irina Dobrekova (born 1931), Russian painter Irina Dorofeeva (born 1977), Belarusian singer and politician Irina Dubkova, Russian composer Irina Dubtsova (born 1982), Russian singer-songwriter and actress Irina Elcheva (1926–2013), Russian composer Irina Emeliantseva (born 1973), Russian musician Iryna Fedyshyn (born 1987), Ukrainian singer and songwriter Irina Getmanskaya (born 1939), Russian artist Irina Gribulina (born 1953), Soviet composer and poet Irina Hasnaș (born 1954), Romanian composer Irina Ionesco (1930–2022), French photographer Irina Iordachescu (born 1977), Romanian soprano opera singer Irina Karnaoukhova (1901–1959), Ukrainian-Russian children's writer and folklorist Irina Kotova (born 1976), Belarusian—French painter and graphic artist Irina Kulikova (born 1982), Russian classical guitarist Iryna Kyrylina (1953–2017), Ukrainian composer Irina Lankova (born 1977), Russian—born Belgian concert pianist Irina Levshakova (1959–2016), Russian paleontologist and artist Irina Loghin (born 1939), Romanian folk singer Irina Lungu (born 1980), Russian operatic soprano Irina Nakhova, Russian painter Irina Odagescu (born 1937), Romanian music educator and composer Irina Plotnikova (born 1954), Russian pianist Irina Ponarovskaya (born 1953), Russian actor and singer Irina Rimes (born 1991), Moldavian-Romanian singer and songwriter Irina Rubtsova (born 1957), Russian opera singer Irina Saari (born 1975), Finnish pop singer, better known by her mononym Irina Irina Saltykova (born 1966), Russian singer Irina Smelaya (born 1991), Russian hip-hop artist Irina Stolyarova (born 1966), Russian art collector Irina Terehova (born 1989), Canadian model and reality television personality Irina Toneva (born 1977), Russian pop singer Irina Zabiyaka (born 1982), Russian singer Irina Zahharenkova (born 1976), Estonian and Finnish concert pianist Irina Zaritskaya (1939–2001), Ukrainian pianist Irina Zhurina (born 1946), Russian operatic coloratura soprano
Actresses and models
Irina Afanasieva, Russian theater producer Irina Alfyorova (born 1951), Soviet and Russian actress Irina Apeksimova (born 1966), Russian ballet dancer and actress Irina Baeva (born 1992), Russian actress and model Irina Baronova (1919–2008), Russian ballerina and actress Irina Björklund (born 1973), Finnish actress and singer Irina Brazgovka (born 1954), Soviet and Russian actress Irina Brook (born 1962), British stage director, producer and actress Irina Brown, Russian theatre director Irina Bugrimova (1910–2001), Russian circus performer Irina Demick (1936–2004), French actress Irina Dvorovenko (born 1973), Ukrainian-American ballet dancer and actress Irina Fedotova, Russian model and fashion designer Irina Gorbacheva (born 1988), Russian theater and film actress Irina Gorovaia (born 1989), American actress Irina Grjebine (1909–1994), Russian ballet dancer Irina Gubanova (1940–2000), Russian ballerina and film actress Irina Hudova (1926–2015), Finnish ballet dancer and teacher Irina Kaptelova (born 1986), Ukrainian actress Irina Kolesnikova (born 1980), Russian ballet dancer Irina Kolpakova (born 1933), Russian ballerina Irina Kovalenko, Russian model Irina Kulikova (model) (born 1991), Russian fashion model Irina Kupchenko (born 1948), Soviet and Russian actress Irina Lăzăreanu (born 1982), Canadian model and singer Irina Leonova (born 1978), Russian theater and film actress Irina Medvedeva (born 1982), Russian and Belarusian actress Irina Miroshnichenko (1942–2023), Soviet and Russian actress Irina Muluile (born 1989), French actress Irina Murzaeva (1906–1988), Soviet actress Irina Pantaeva (born 1967), Siberian fashion model and actress Irina Petrescu (1941–2013), Romanian actress Irina Rozanova (born 1961), Soviet and Russian actress Irina Shabayeva (born 1982), American fashion designer Irina Shayk (born 1986), model originally from Russia Irina Skobtseva (1927–2020), Soviet and Russian actress Irina Skvortsova (born 1988), Russian TV presenter and bobsleigh racer Irina Sosnovaya, Russian film producer Irina Starshenbaum (born 1992), Russian actress Irina Taseva (1910–1990), Bulgarian actress Irina Terehova (born 1989), Canadian model and reality TV personality Iryna Tsilyk (born 1982), Ukrainian writer and film director Irina Voronina (born 1977), Playboy Playmate originally from Russia Irina Wrona, German actress Irina Zarubina (1907–1976), Soviet actress Irina Zhdanovich (1906–1994), Belarusian actress and theatre director Iryna Zhuravska (born 1990), Ukrainian model
Sports
Irina Abysova (born 1980), Russian triathlete Irina Aksyonova (born 1962), Russian swimmer Irina Alexandrova (born 1994), Kazakhstani handball player Irina Alexeeva (born 2002), Russian gymnast Irina Amalie Andersen (born 1998), Danish badminton player Irina Andreeva (born 1994), Russian sprint canoeist Irina Annenkova (born 1999), Russian rhythmic gymnast Irina Antonova (born 1986), Kazakhstani-Russian handball player Irina Anurina (born 1999), Russian athlete Irina Armstrong (born 1970), German darts player Irina Avvakumova (born 1991), Russian ski jumper Iryna Balashova, Ukrainian Paralympic swimmer Irina Bara (born 1995), Romanian tennis player Irina Baskakova (born 1956), Soviet track and field sprinter Irina Bazilevskaya (born 1970), Belarusian rower Irina Beglyakova (1933–2018), Soviet discus thrower Irina-Camelia Begu (born 1990), Romanian tennis player , Russian heptathlete Irina Belova (born 1980), Russian rhythmic gymnast Irina Bespalova (born 1981), Russian butterfly swimmer Irina Birvagen (born 1988), Kazakhstani footballer Irina Bliznova (born 1986), Russian handball player Irina Bogacheva (born 1961), Kyrgyzstani long-distance runner Irina Bondarchuk (born 1952), Russian female long-distance runner Irina Borechko (born 1972), Kazakhstani handball player Irina Borodavko (born 1979), Kazakhstani water polo player Irina Borzova (born 1987), Russian acrobatic gymnast Irina Bulakhova, Ukrainian gymnast Irina Bulmaga (born 1993), Moldovan-born Romanian chess player Irina Buryachok (born 1986), Ukrainian tennis player Irina Bykova (born 1993), Kazakhstani cross-country skier Irina Chelushkina (born 1961), Serbian chess player Irina Cherniaeva (born 1955), Russian figure skater Irina Crasnoscioc (born 1981), Moldovan basketball player Irina Danilova (born 1993), Kazakhstani handball player Irina Davydova (born 1988), Russian hurdler Irina Deleanu (born 1975), Romanian former individual rhythmic gymnast Irina Deriugina (born 1958), Soviet rhythmic gymnast Irina Devina (born 1959), Soviet rhythmic gymnast Irina Dolgova (born 1995), Russian judoka Irina Donets (born 1976), Dutch volleyball player Irina Dorneanu (born 1990), Romanian rower Irina Ektova (born 1987), Kazakhstani triple jumper Irina Embrich (born 1980), Estonian fencer Irina Ermolova, Soviet tennis player Irina Falconi (born 1990), Ecuadorian-born American tennis player Iryna Fedoriv (born 2005), Ukrainian canoeist Irina Fedotova (born 1975), Russian rower Irina Fetecău (born 1996), Romanian tennis player Irina Fetisova (born 1956), Soviet swimmer and rower Irina Fetisova (born 1994), Russian volleyball player Irina Filishtinskaya (born 1990), Russian volleyball player Irina Gashennikova (born 1975), Russian ice hockey player Irina Gerasimenok (born 1970), Russian sport shooter Irina Gerlits (born 1966), Kazakhstani basketball player Irina Glimakova, Russian tennis and beach player Irina Gordeeva (born 1986), Russian high jumper Irina Grazhdanova (born 1987), Russian Paralympic swimmer Irina Gribko (born 1969), Soviet rower Irina Grigorieva, Russian former footballer Irina Grishkova (born 1946), Soviet ice dancer Irina Gritsenko (born 1968), French-Kazakhstani badminton player Irina Gubkina (born 1972), Russian luger Irina Gulyayeva (born 1984), Russian biathlete Irina Gumenyuk (born 1988), Russian triple jumper Iryna Honcharova (born 1974), Ukrainian handball player Irina Hornig, German skydiver Irina Ilchenko (born 1968), Russian volleyball player