Ilona Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ee-LOH-nah /iˈloʊ.nə/
Origin: Hungarian; Hebrew
Meaning: Hungarian: light; Hebrew: God is my light
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Ilona has its roots in the Hungarian language, derived from the Latin name Helena, which itself originates from the Ancient Greek name Ἑλένη (Helénē). The Greek name is believed to be derived from the word ἥλιος (hēlios), meaning "sun," or possibly from the word ἐλένη (helene), meaning "torch" or "light." This etymological lineage reflects a connection to brightness and illumination, which has been a significant theme in various cultures throughout history.
The name entered the Hungarian lexicon and has been used since at least the Middle Ages, gaining prominence in the region due to the influence of Christianity and the veneration of Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, who is credited with finding the True Cross in the 4th century. Throughout history, the name Ilona has been associated with various cultural and literary figures, particularly in Hungarian folklore and literature.
One notable mention is the character Ilona in Hungarian folk tales, often depicted as a beautiful and virtuous maiden, which has contributed to the name's enduring appeal in Hungarian culture. The name also appears in various literary works, reinforcing its cultural significance and connection to themes of beauty and virtue.
In addition to its literary and folkloric associations, Ilona has also been linked to various traditions and customs in Hungary. The name is often celebrated in folk songs and is associated with certain cultural festivities, reflecting its deep roots in the national identity.
The diminutive form, Iluska, is sometimes used affectionately, showcasing the name's versatility and its ability to adapt within familial and social contexts. Overall, Ilona embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic, historical, and cultural significance that has allowed it to endure through the centuries.
Famous people named Ilona
In this section, you will find notable people named Ilona. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Ilona who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Ilona who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Ilona Andrews is a writing duo best known for the Kate Daniels series and the Hidden Legacy series.
Ilona Massey was an actress and singer best known for her roles in films such as The Great Ziegfeld and The Lady from Shanghai.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Ilona, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Ilona. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Ilona was first seen in the United States in 1909.
Ilona has ranked as high as #870 nationally, which occurred in 1946, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Ilona has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Ilona is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Ilona was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Ilona (2020)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Ilona.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2021 | 19 |
| 2020 | 24 |
| 2019 | 30 |
| 2018 | 29 |
| 2017 | 28 |
| 2016 | 35 |
| 2015 | 36 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2013 | 22 |
| 2012 | 26 |
| 2011 | 24 |
| 2010 | 27 |
| 2009 | 22 |
| 2008 | 32 |
| 2007 | 33 |
| 2006 | 26 |
| 2005 | 37 |
| 2004 | 34 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2002 | 27 |
| 2001 | 21 |
| 2000 | 27 |
| 1999 | 25 |
| 1998 | 20 |
| 1997 | 24 |
| 1996 | 18 |
| 1995 | 22 |
| 1994 | 16 |
| 1993 | 20 |
| 1992 | 20 |
| 1991 | 15 |
| 1990 | 29 |
| 1989 | 9 |
| 1988 | 12 |
| 1987 | 14 |
| 1986 | 16 |
| 1985 | 16 |
| 1984 | 25 |
| 1983 | 16 |
| 1982 | 21 |
| 1981 | 22 |
| 1980 | 23 |
| 1979 | 22 |
| 1978 | 22 |
| 1977 | 17 |
| 1976 | 21 |
| 1975 | 28 |
| 1974 | 26 |
| 1973 | 32 |
| 1972 | 22 |
| 1971 | 29 |
| 1970 | 40 |
| 1969 | 32 |
| 1968 | 29 |
| 1967 | 43 |
| 1966 | 30 |
| 1965 | 34 |
| 1964 | 38 |
| 1963 | 50 |
| 1962 | 32 |
| 1961 | 51 |
| 1960 | 35 |
| 1959 | 40 |
| 1958 | 45 |
| 1957 | 53 |
| 1956 | 53 |
| 1955 | 43 |
| 1954 | 59 |
| 1953 | 63 |
| 1952 | 75 |
| 1951 | 68 |
| 1950 | 72 |
| 1949 | 73 |
| 1948 | 56 |
| 1947 | 101 |
| 1946 | 102 |
| 1945 | 56 |
| 1944 | 52 |
| 1943 | 83 |
| 1942 | 82 |
| 1941 | 58 |
| 1940 | 75 |
| 1939 | 29 |
| 1938 | 19 |
| 1937 | 12 |
| 1936 | 6 |
| 1935 | 8 |
| 1934 | 5 |
| 1933 | 5 |
| 1932 | 7 |
| 1931 | 11 |
| 1930 | 11 |
| 1929 | 10 |
| 1928 | 10 |
| 1927 | 19 |
| 1926 | 10 |
| 1925 | 8 |
| 1924 | 7 |
| 1923 | 9 |
| 1922 | 15 |
| 1921 | 10 |
| 1920 | 8 |
| 1919 | 8 |
| 1917 | 16 |
| 1916 | 11 |
| 1915 | 9 |
| 1914 | 8 |
| 1913 | 6 |
| 1912 | 8 |
| 1911 | 5 |
| 1910 | 6 |
| 1909 | 5 |