Irena
Every Irena since 1880 — 2,186 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Irena
Irena is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #5,305 in 2025 with 24 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 2,186 American babies have been named Irena. Its peak came in 2024, when 34 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Irena stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Irena year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | #5,305 |
| 2024 | 34 | #4,240 |
| 2023 | 22 | #5,631 |
| 2022 | 23 | #5,534 |
| 2021 | 27 | #4,894 |
| 2020 | 31 | #4,392 |
| 2019 | 26 | #5,084 |
| 2018 | 33 | #4,272 |
| 2017 | 30 | #4,613 |
| 2016 | 30 | #4,669 |
| 2015 | 31 | #4,529 |
| 2014 | 23 | #5,692 |
| 2013 | 24 | #5,550 |
| 2012 | 29 | #4,886 |
| 2011 | 27 | #5,119 |
| 2010 | 23 | #5,859 |
| 2009 | 18 | #7,168 |
| 2008 | 18 | #7,186 |
| 2007 | 16 | #7,869 |
| 2006 | 14 | #8,426 |
| 2005 | 21 | #5,890 |
| 2004 | 20 | #6,067 |
| 2003 | 18 | #6,410 |
| 2002 | 21 | #5,539 |
| 2001 | 16 | #6,745 |
| 2000 | 21 | #5,377 |
| 1995 | 20 | #4,909 |
| 1990 | 11 | #7,497 |
| 1985 | 16 | #4,711 |
| 1980 | 14 | #5,069 |
| 1975 | 22 | #3,195 |
| 1970 | 20 | #3,246 |
| 1965 | 17 | #3,092 |
| 1960 | 10 | #4,288 |
| 1955 | 17 | #2,766 |
| 1950 | 8 | #4,101 |
| 1945 | 6 | #4,240 |
| 1940 | 8 | #3,334 |
| 1935 | 13 | #2,359 |
| 1930 | 12 | #2,601 |
| 1925 | 14 | #2,545 |
| 1920 | 23 | #1,775 |
| 1915 | 18 | #1,838 |
| 1910 | 9 | #1,692 |
| 1905 | 11 | #1,209 |
| 1900 | 11 | #1,196 |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | 10 | #900 |
| 1885 | 7 | #873 |
| 1880 | 8 | #651 |
Famous people named Irena
- Irena Sendler Social activist · 1910–2008
- Irena Szewińska Athlete · 1946–2018
- Irena Degutienė Politician · b. 1949
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Irena in 2025?
Irena ranked #5,305 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 24 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Irena?
2,186 babies have been named Irena in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Irena most popular?
Irena peaked in 2024, when 34 newborns received the name.
Is Irena a boy or girl name?
Irena is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Irena rising or falling?
Irena has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Irena?
Well-known people named Irena include Irena Sendler (social activist), Irena Szewińska (athlete), Irena Degutienė (politician).