Given name
Iliana
“the shining light”
In Greek use, Iliana carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Greek use, Iliana carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Greek.
How it developed
Iliana is used as a form of Helen.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1955. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Iliana is a form of Helen. The history of Helen gives this family its wider story. Helen’s historical associations include the mother of the Emperor Constantine.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Iliana through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 13,339
- 0 boys · 13,339 girls
- Most popular year
- 2007
- 453 babies
- 2025
- 380
- #730 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +5%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 380 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 730 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 5.3% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 453 in 2007. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (74). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 14,616 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.
Iliana’s family of names
Iliana is a form of Helen. In English usage, Iliana has a related form in Ileana. Iliana has a related form in Ileana.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 17
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Iliana
- Iliana IotovaPresident of Bulgaria since 2026, vice-president of Bulgaria from 2017 to 2026, politician and journalistborn 1964
- Iliana IvanovaBulgarian public figureborn 1975
- Iliana RupertFrench basketball player (born 2001)
- Iliana FoxMexican actressborn 1976
- Iliana RaevaBulgarian rhythmic gymnastborn 1963
- Iliyana TsanovaBulgarian politicianborn 1976
- Iliana BiridakisJordanian archerborn 1959
- Iliana CalabróArgentinian actorborn 1964
- Iliana PetkovaBulgarian volleyball playerborn 1977
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Iliana, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kara
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>99% girls
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“one who is pure; virginal”
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Katheryn
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Alena
“the shining light” · “helper and defender of mankind”
>99% girls
Heirnine
“the shining light”
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Tiana
“queen of the fairies” · “an aunt”
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ⲕⲗⲉⲟⲡⲁⲧⲣⲁ
“a father's glory; of the royal family”
>99% girls