Princess Irene of Greece (1904-1974)

[KarlandZita]

I wonder who was the young woman behind Helen ?

You mean behind Irene ? No idea ...

[KarlandZita]

Irene between her sisters Helen and Catherine :

[Carolath Habsburg]

I wonder who was the young woman behind Helen ?

Pss Herzeleid von Preussen, Oskar´s daughter

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3208/3014790017_6256492c64_b.jpg

[KarlandZita]

Irene posing in late 20s or early 30s :

[Maria_Pavlovna]

I wonder since I never read or heard if Princess Irene was named after her aunt-by marriage Irene of Hesse, since Royals name their children after relations or after the Saint Irene? like her cousin Marina was named after the popular Greek Saint Marina.

also and a bit off topic, the little Princess Elisabeth of Hesse, she died in 1903, and her mother was close friends (also first cousin and later sister-in-law) with Elena Vladimirovna, was Elisabeth of Greece was named after the late little Hessian Princess?

[Eric_Lowe]

Irene is named after Saint Irene of the Greek Church and not Irene of Hesse. The name Irene means "peace" in Greek. A good name for a Greek Princess.

There are also 2 Elisabeths in the Romanov family. Ella & Marva. Prince Nicholas of Greece was a good friend of Ella too.

[Maria_Pavlovna]

I know the name means Peace, Eric. i was only wondering if she was either named after her aunt or the saint. as for the Elisabeths, yes i am aware, however since the little Hessian Princess died months before the Greek Princess was born, its a possibility or the Prince and Princess Nicholas just like the name (and that it was popular name in the Russian/Greek Orthodox Church) and named her like how they named their youngest daughter Princess Marina, after Saints.

thanks.


anyways back to topic, sorry for the little side track.

[eejm]

I wonder since I never read or heard if Princess Irene was named after her aunt-by marriage Irene of Hesse, since Royals name their children after relations or after the Saint Irene? like her cousin Marina was named after the popular Greek Saint Marina.

also and a bit off topic, the little Princess Elisabeth of Hesse, she died in 1903, and her mother was close friends (also first cousin and later sister-in-law) with Elena Vladimirovna, was Elisabeth of Greece was named after the late little Hessian Princess?

I believe the fact that the second Irene of Greece was born during WWII and her family's exile in South Africa helped determine her name.  As Eric mentions, the name does mean "peace," and Irene of Hesse (born during the Austro-Prussian War) was given her name because of this.  The same can be said for Irene of the Netherlands, who was born at the beginning of WWII. 

To my knowledge, the first Irene of Greece wasn't born around or during any wars in which Greece was involved, so that may not have influenced her name.  Was Irene of Hesse one of the younger Irene's godparents?  She was a cousin and sister-in-law to Sophie. 

[Eric_Lowe]

Might be. But it was chosen because it was Greek like Helen, Theodora or Sophie.

[grandduchessella]

Sophia is Greek (wisdom). Wouldn't Sophie be for Queen Sophie?

Katherine is also a Greek name (pure). Margarita probably came from margarites (Greek for pearl). So it seems that they did try to pick Greek names, some of which also had family connections in other variations.

[Maria_Pavlovna]

I read that Princess Alice didn't name her youngest daughter after the Queen Sophia. Alice picked Sophia since it is in every European language and secondly a good Greek name.

[grandduchessella]

Yes, if the name was Sophia or Sofia, it would be the Greek version. My remark was made to the effect that if any of the princesses were named Sophie instead, it would seem to indicate being named after the Queen.

When I went and looked, it seems that the later Greek princesses (Alice's daughter and King Paul's daughter) were named Sofia/Sophia according to the Online Gotha.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes. More like Sophia (sister of Prince Philip) & Sophia (Queen of Spain). Both named after the Greek name for wisdom.

[trentk80]

Yes, if the name was Sophia or Sofia, it would be the Greek version. My remark was made to the effect that if any of the princesses were named Sophie instead, it would seem to indicate being named after the Queen.

When I went and looked, it seems that the later Greek princesses (Alice's daughter and King Paul's daughter) were named Sofia/Sophia according to the Online Gotha.

King Paul's daughter, Queen Sofia of Spain, was named after her grandmother, Queen Sophie of Greece. The queen said this during an interview several years ago.

In any case, Queen Sophie was known in Greece as Sofia/Sophia, the Greek version of her name, not Sophie.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes. But not Princess Alice's daughter Sophia. I don't think Princess Andrew or Queen Sophie was ever close, although the cousins were.