Irena sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Irene, Irina, and Serena are the closest matches by sound. Most share Irena's Polish-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"peace"
"bright, torch (via Helena/Jelena)"
"rival, emulator (via Camilla/Aemilia)"
"sapphire gemstone, beautiful"
"short form of Nicholas/Nicola"
"dream"
"green, the color of nature"
"dew, generosity"
"of the sea, bitter"
"harmonious, musical, well-ordered"
"star, starry one"
"beautiful, lovely"
"farmer, earth-worker"
"she who hides, concealer"
"purity, beauty, grace"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Irena — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Irena.
Rhythm: Irena is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.