Irina

Irina / Iryna
Pronunciation	Russian: [ɪˈrʲinə]; Ukrainian: [iˈrɪnɐ] ⓘ
Gender	Female
Origin
Word/name	Bulgarian; Russian; Albanian; Romanian; Greek; Ukrainian; Belarusian; Serbian; Macedonian; Georgian ; Finnish
Meaning	Peace
Other names
Related names	Erina; Irene; Arina; Yurina

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 (Ancient Greek: Εἰρήνη), 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, Irinka, Irinushka, Irinochka, Irisha, Irka, Irochka, Irusia, Iraya.

Origin[edit]

Irina is connected with Irene of Macedonia 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).^[1]^[2]^[3]

Notable people with this name[edit]

Nobility and politics[edit]

Princess Irina Alexandrovna of Russia (1895–1970)
Irina Berezhna, Ukrainian politician
Irina Cabezas, Ecuadorian politician and educator
Irina Dunn, Australian politician
Irina Filatova, Russian politician
Irina Ivenskikh, Russian politician
Irina Khakamada (b. 1955), Russian politician
Irina Mikhailovna of Russia, Russian Tsarevna
Irina Mikhailovna Raievskya, Russian and German noble
Irina Molokanova, Transnistrian politician
Irina Ovtchinnikova, Marquise de Monléon
Irina Paley, daughter of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia
Irina Rodnina (born 1949), Russian politician and fugue skater
Irina Vlah, Moldovan politician
Irina von Wiese (b. 1967), British politician
Irina Walker, daughter of King Michael I of Romania
Irina Yusupova, Russian princess
Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories

Arts and music[edit]

Irina Allegrova, Russian singer
Irina Antonenko, Miss Russia 2010
Irina Arkhipova, Soviet and Russian opera singer
Irina Belotelkin, Russian—American artist and fashion designer
Irina Bogacheva (mezzo-soprano), Russian opera singer
Irina Dobrekova, Russian painter
Irina Dubkova, Russian composer
Irina Dubtsova, Russian singer-songwriter and actress
Irina Elcheva, Russian composer
Irina Emeliantseva, Russian musician
Iryna Fedyshyn, Ukrainian singer and songwriter
Irina Getmanskaya, Russian artist
Irina Gribulina, Soviet composer and poet
Irina Hasnaș, Romanian composer
Irina Ionesco, French photographer
Irina Iordachescu, Romanian soprano opera singer
Irina Kotova, Belarusian—French painter and graphic artist
Irina Kulikova (guitarist), Russian classical guitarist
Irina Lankova, Russian—born Belgian concert pianist
Irina Levshakova, Russian paleontologist and artist
Irina Lungu, Russian operatic soprano
Irina Nakhova, Russian painter
Irina Odagescu, Romanian music educator and composer
Irina Ponarovskaya, Russian actor and singer
Irina Rimes, Moldavian-Romanian singer and songwriter
Irina Saari, Finnish pop singer, better known by her mononym Irina
Irina Smelaya, Russian hip-hop artist
Irina Terehova, Canadian model and reality television personality
Irina Toneva, Russian pop singer
Irina Zabiyaka, Russian singer
Irina Zahharenkova, Estonian and Finnish concert pianist
Irina Zaritskaya, Ukrainian pianist
Irina Zhruina, Russian operatic coloratura soprano

Actresses and models[edit]

Irina Afanasieva, Russian theater producer
Irina Alfyorova, Soviet and Russian actress
Irina Apeksimova, Russian ballet dancer and actress
Irina Baeva, Russian actress and model
Irina Baronova, Russian ballerina and actress
Irina Björklund, Finnish actress and singer
Irina Brook, British stage director, producer and actress
Irina Demick, French actress
Irina Dvorovenko, Ukrainian-American ballet dancer and actress
Irina Fedotova (model), Russian model and fashion designer
Irina Gorbacheva, Russian theater and film actress
Irina Gorovaia, American actress
Irina Hudova, Finnish ballet dancer and teacher
Irina Kaptelova, Ukrainian actress
Irina Kolesnikova, Russian ballet dancer
Irina Kolpakova, Russian ballerina
Irina Kupchenko, Soviet and Russian actress
Irina Lăzăreanu, Canadian model and singer
Irina Leonova, Russian theater and film actress
Irina Medvedeva (actress), Russian and Belarusian actress
Irina Miroshnichenko, Soviet and Russian actress
Irina Muluile, French actress
Irina Murzaeva, Soviet actress
Irina Pantaeva, Siberian fashion model and actress
Irina Petrescu, Romanian actress
Irina Rozanova, Soviet and Russian actress
Irina Shabayeva, American fashion designer
Irina Shayk, model originally from Russia
Irina Skobtseva, Soviet and Russian actress
Irina Sosnovaya, Russian film producer
Irina Starshenbaum, Russian actress
Irina Taseva, Bulgarian actress
Irina Voronina, Playboy Playmate originally from Russia
Irina Wrona, German actress
Irina Zarubina, Soviet actress
Irina Zhdanovich, Belarusian actress and theatre director

Sports[edit]

Irina Abysova, Russian triathlete
Irina Alexeeva, Russian gymnast
Irina Annenkova, Russian rhythmic gymnast
Irina Anurina, Russian athlete
Irina Armstrong, German darts player
Irina Avvakumova, Russian ski jumper
Irina Bara, Romanian tennis player
Irina Baskakova, Soviet track and field sprinter
Irina-Camelia Begu, Romanian tennis player
Irina Bespalova, Russian butterfly swimmer
Irina Bulmaga, Moldovan-born Romanian chess player
Irina Buryachok, Ukrainian tennis player
Irina Chelushkina, Serbian chess player
Irina Cherniaeva, Russian figure skater
Irina Crasnoscioc, Moldovan basketball player
Irina Davydova, Russian hurdler
Irina Deleanu, Romanian former individual rhythmic gymnast
Irina Deriugina, Soviet rhythmic gymnast
Irina Devina, Soviet rhythmic gymnast
Irina Dolgova, Russian judoka
Irina Dorneanu, Romanian rower
Irina Ektova, Kazakhstani triple jumper
Irina Embrich, Estonian fencer
Irina Ermolova, Soviet tennis player
Irina Falconi, Ecuadorian-born American tennis player
Irina Fetisova (swimmer and rower), Soviet swimmer and rower
Irina Fetisova (volleyball), Russian volleyball player
Irina Filishtinskaya, Russian volleyball player
Irina Gashennikova, Russian ice hockey player
Irina Glimakova, Russian tennis and beach player
Irina Grigorieva (footballer), Russian former footballer
Irina Gumenyuk, Russian triple jumper
Irina Hornig, German skydiver
Irina Ilchenko, Russian volleyball player
Irina Ilyenkova, Belarusian rhythmic gymnast
Irina Ivanova, Russian pole vaulter
Irina Izmalkova, Russian sport shooter
Irina Khavronina, Russian ice dancer
Irina Khazova, Russian cross-country skier
Irina Khlebko, Russian badminton player
Irina Khromacheva, Russian tennis player
Irina Koroleva, Russian volleyball player
Irina Kostyuchenkova, Ukrainian javelin thrower
Irina Krush, chess player
Irina Lashko, Russian-born Australian diver
Irina Latve, Latvian middle-distance runner
Irina Lenskiy, Ukrainian-born Israeli athlete
Irina Levitina, Russian-born American chess and bridge player
Irina Lobacheva, Russian ice dancer
Irina Loghin, Romanian folk singer
Irina Meszynski, East German discus thrower
Irina Mikitenko, Kazakhstan-born German long-distance runner, former winner of both the Berlin and London marathons
Irina Müller, East German rower
Irina Nazarova, Soviet sprinter
Irina Nekrassova, Kazakhstani weightlifter
Irina Netreba, Azerbaijani sport wrestler
Irina Nikolaeva, Russian figure skater
Irina Nikulchina, Bulgarian biathlete
Irina Obedina, Russian hurdler
Irina Ologonova, Russian freestyle swimmer
Irina Orendi, Romanian high jumper
Irina Osipova, Russian basketball player
Irina Ouioutova, Russian volleyball player
Irina Perevertkina, Russian chess player
Irina Podyalovskaya, Soviet middle distance runner
Irina Pop, Dominican Republic handball player
Irina Press, Soviet 2x Olympic champion (80-m hurdles & pentathlon)
Irina Privalova, Russian Olympic gold medallist athlete
Irina Ramialison, French tennis player
Irina Rîngaci, Moldovan freestyle swimmer
Irina Risenzon, Hungarian—born Israeli rhythmic gymnast
Irina Rodina, Russian judoka and samba practitioner
Irina Rodnina, Soviet figure skater
Irina Rodríguez, Spanish synchronized swimmer
Irina Romanova (figure skater), Ukrainian former competitive ice dancer
Irina Rosikhina, Russian sprinter
Irina Sazonova, Russian-Icelandic gymnast
Irina Selyutina, Kazakhstani tennis player
Irina Semenova (chess player), Uzbekistani chess player
Irina Serova (born 1966), Austrian-Soviet badminton player
Irina Shilova, Belarusian sports shooter
Irina Sidorkova, Russian racing driver
Irina Slutskaya, Russian world champion figure skater
Irina Slyusar, Ukrainian sprinter
Irina Spîrlea, Romanian tennis player
Irina Tarasova, Russian shot putter
Irina Tchachina, Russian rhythmic gymnast
Irina Tebenikhina, Russian volleyball player
Irina Timofeyeva, Russian long-distance runner
Irina Tkatchuk, Russian figure skater
Irina Tolkunova, Russian—Kazakhstani water polo player
Irina Topal, Moldovan footballer
Irina Turova, Soviet sprinter
Irina Turova (chess player), Russian chess player
Irina Ufimtseva, Russian freestyle swimmer
Irina Ushakova, Soviet fencer
Irina Vasilevich, Russian chess player
Irina Viner-Usmanova, Russian rhythmic gymnastics coach
Irina Vorobieva, Russian pair skater
Irina Voronkova, Russian volleyball player
Irina Yarotska, Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast
Irina Yegorova, Russian speed skater
Irina Yevdokimova, Kazakhstani gymnast
Irina Zabludina, Russian judoka
Irina Zaitseva, Kazakhstani volleyball player
Irina Zaretska, Azerbaijani karateka
Irina Zhuk, Russian ice dancing coach and former competitor
Irina Zilber, Russian rhythmic gymnast
Irina Zvereva, Soviet tennis player

Other[edit]

Irina Antanasijević (born 1965), Russian and Serbian philologist, literary critic and translator
Irina Antonova (1922–2020), Soviet and Russian art historian
Irina Artemieva, Russian earth scientist and academic
Irina Beletskaya (born 1933), Russian chemist
Irina Bokova (born 1952), Bulgarian diplomat
Irina Bolychevsky, British activist and data specialist
Irina Chakraborty, Russian-Finnish-Indian environmental engineer
Irina Dryagina (1921–2017), Soviet military officer and botanist
Irina Feodorova (1931–2010), Soviet ethnographer
Irina Gaidamachuk (born 1972), prolific Russian serial killer
Irina Godunova (1557–1603), Russian empress
Irina Grekova (1907–2002), Russian writer and mathematician
Irina Grigorieva (academic), Russian physicist
Irina Ilovaiskaya (1924–2000), Yugoslav journalist and activist
Irina Ivshina (born 1950), Russian microbiologist
Irina Korschunow (1925–2013), German writer
Irina Kraeva (born 1958), Russian linguist
Irina Nikolaevna Levchenko (1924–1973), Russian tank commander
Irina Livezeanu, Romanian—American historian
Irina Liebmann (born 1943), German journalist-author and sinologist
Irina Linnik (1922–2009), Russian art historian
Irina Livezeanu (born 1952), Romanian-born American historian
Irina Mitrea, Romanian mathematician
Irina Nevzlin, Israeli entrepreneur and author
Irina Nikolaeva (linguist), Russian linguist and academic teacher
Irina Novikova (physicist), Russian—American physicist
Irina Perminova, Russian chemist
Irina Petraș (born 1947), Romanian writer
Irina Petrushova, Russian journalist, founder and editor-in-chief
Irina Podgorny, Argentine anthropologist
Irina Fedorovna Popova (born 1961), Russian Sinologist and historian
Irina Popova, Russian photographer
Irina Prokhorova (born 1956), Russian historian and critic
Irina Rakobolskaya (1919–2016), Russian physicist and aviator
Irina Ratushinskaya (1954–2017), Russian writer
Irina Reyn, American novelist
Irina Rozovsky, American photographer
Irina Scherbakowa, Russian historian
Iryna Senyk (1926–2009), Ukrainian poet, nurse, and Soviet political dissident
Irina Slavina (1973–2020), Russian journalist
Irina Tokmakova (1929–2018), Soviet and Russian writer
Irina Tsvila (1969–2022), Ukrainian teacher, public activist, and photographer
Irina Tweedie (1907–1999), Russian British Sufi and teacher
Irina Veretennicoff (born 1944), Belgian physicist
Irina Volynets (born 1978), Russian journalist and human rights activist
Irina Zenovka (born 1972), Russian choreographer
Irina Zherebkina, Ukrainian feminist academic

Fictional characters[edit]

Irina, the child protagonist in Magdalen Nabb's The Enchanted Horse.
Irina Asanova, the great love of fictional Moscow homicide investigator Arkady Renko in the novels Gorky Park and Red Square by Martin Cruz Smith
Irina Derevko, KGB and Covenant terrorist, a main character in the Alias series
Irina Palm, pseudonym of the main character in 2007 film of the same name
Irina Spalko, a fictional Russian mobster in the film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Irina Clayton, a.k.a. Choir, a former member of the Xavier Institute student body and the Street Team X-Men in the Marvel Comics Universe
Irina Nikolaievna Spaskaya, former KGB agent and expert pole vaulter from St.Petersburg in the 39 Clues Series
Irina, One of the three sisters in Anton Chekhov's play Three Sisters
Irina Kerchenkov, a Russian model in Sarra Manning's Fashionistas book series
Irina Denali, a member of the Denali coven in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
Irina, a character from the novel series The Heroic Legend of Arslan by Yoshiki Tanaka.
Irina Shidō, a fictional character from the Japanese light novel series High School DxD by Ichiei Ishibumi.
The Groovy Girls doll line, by Manhattan Toy, features a doll named Irina.
Irina Jelavić, a fictional character in the Japanese manga and anime Assassination Classroom
Irina Clockworker, an antagonist from a series of Vocaloid songs known as "The Evillious Chronicles"
Irina of House Griffin, a playable character in PC game Might and Magic: Heroes VI
Irina Luminesk, the protagonist of Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut

References[edit]

^ "Irina". Orthodox Encyclopedia (in Russian). Retrieved 7 December 2019.
^ "Irene the Great Martyr". Saints and Feasts. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
^ The Holy Great-Martyress Irene, Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, Baltimore, US

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[1] "Irina". Orthodox Encyclopedia (in Russian). Retrieved 7 December 2019.

[2] "Irene the Great Martyr". Saints and Feasts. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Retrieved 7 December 2019.

[3] The Holy Great-Martyress Irene, Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, Baltimore, US

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