Given name
Ilena
“the light-bearer; from the green meadow”
In English use, Ilena carries the interpretation “the light-bearer; from the green meadow.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Ilena carries the interpretation “the light-bearer; from the green meadow.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
Ilena is used as a form of Aileen.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Ilena through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 702
- 0 boys · 702 girls
- Most popular year
- 2008
- 22 babies
- 2025
- 16
- #6,948 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +8%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 16 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 6,948 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 8.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 22 in 2008. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 615 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Ilena’s family of names
Ilena is a form of Aileen. Ilena has a related form in Ileana. Ilena has a related form in Ilene.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Ilena
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Ilena, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Marilla
“of the shining sea”
>99% girls
Coral
Coral is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “resembling the semiprecious sea growth; from the reef.”
>99% girls
Marlee
“of the marshy meadow”
2% boys · 98% girls
Marley
“from the meadow near the lake”
13% boys · 87% girls
Gardenia
“resembling the sweetsmelling flower”
>99% girls
Lemon
“resembling the fruit”
>99% girls
Sky
“from the heavens”
22% boys · 78% girls
Aerwyna
“a friend of the ocean”
>99% girls