Irene sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Iris, Eileen, and Irena are the closest matches by sound. Most share Irene's Greek-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"peace"
"grey fortress, grey enclosure"
"small one, diminutive"
"modesty, faithfulness (flower symbolism)"
"lion of God"
"bay laurel (victory)"
"pure, clear"
"modern blended name form"
"whole, universal"
"grace of God"
"rest, comfort (when borrowing the male Noah's meaning)"
"follower of Christ, anointed one"
"olive"
"gracious, dear one"
"slender, slim and fair"
"orchid flower (Cattleya species)"
"sun"
"invented name: Jo + lene"
"my God is an oath"
"woodland clearing"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Irene — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Ancient Greek (eirene) origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Irene.
Rhythm: Irene is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.