Irek (given name)
Irek is a male given name in Central and Eastern Europe, both as an independent name and as a diminutive of Ireneus. This name derives from the Ancient Greek Eirēnáios, from eirḗnē, meaning "peace, tranquility, harmony".
It is recently more often mistakenly considered a Tatar name due to its similarity to the Tatar word for freedom/liberty, but there are no sources indicating this alternative etymology.
Notable people with the name include:
- Irek Faizullin, Russian statesman and politician
- Irek Gimayev, Russian ice hockey defenceman
- Irek Ganiyev, Russian football player
- Irek Hamidullin, Russian soldier
- Irek Kusmierczyk, Canadian politician
- Irek Mukhamedov, Soviet-born British ballet dancer of Tatar origin
- Irek Murtazin, Russian journalist and blogger
- Irek Rizaev, Russian BMX rider
- Irek Zaripov, Russian biathlete and cross-country skier
- Irek Zinnurov, Russian water polo player