The name Irene originates from the Greek word Εἰρήνη (Eirene), meaning 'peace'. It was the name of the Greek goddess who personified peace, one of the Ὥραι (Horai). The name has been borne by several early Christian saints and was notably used in the Byzantine Empire, including by an 8th-century empress who was the first woman to lead the empire. Traditionally more popular among Eastern Christians, it gained usage in the English-speaking world in the 19th century.