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Well, My family resides primarily in Italy, so the pronunciation I prefer is ee-ray-neh.

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However, I grew up with an American stepmother and American relatives who say i-reen... and I usually assume that is the pronunciation people want.

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I have heard of i-reen-ee, spelled Irini, and I adore that name. But I would only pronounce it that way if it was actually spelled Irini.

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I don't much care for Irena, but that is personal style. And I pronounce that as ee-ray-nah. The difference between this and Irene is quite subtle.

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Hope that helps.

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*note, no firm preference for Irene since I currently live in the States. But a similar name, Elena... I firmly pronounce elle-eh-nah, and do not like ee-lay-na (which is Elaina to me).*

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