Given name & surname
Ilona
“the shining light”
Ilona is a variant of Iliana. In Greek use, Iliana carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Ilona is a variant of Iliana. In Greek use, Iliana carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Ilona is a form of Helen. A possible origin is Greek, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1909. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Ilona 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
Ilona through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,332
- 0 boys · 3,332 girls
- Most popular year
- 1946
- 102 babies
- 2025
- 38
- #3,861 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −15%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 38 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,861 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 15.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 102 in 1946. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,882 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.
Ilona’s family of names
In Hungarian usage, Ilona has a diminutive in Ila. Ilona shares a linguistic root with Helen. In Hungarian usage, Ilona has a conventional equivalent in the Italian form Elena.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Ilona has relatives in 9 languages.
13 related names in 9 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Helenavariant · English, German
- Helenvariant · English
- Iladiminutive · Hungarian, Czech
- Ilianavariant
- Helenevariant · German
- Illonalikely variant
- Ilkadiminutive · Hungarian
- Icadiminutive · Hungarian
Show 3 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 11
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- ElenaItalian
- Ilanaequivalent
- Ileanaequivalent
- Ellinaequivalent
- Elonaequivalent
- Ilenaequivalent
- Lienaequivalent
- Ilonequivalent
Show 3 moreShow fewer
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Ilona
- Ilona ElekHungarian fencer (1907-1988)
- Ilona SlupianekEast German shot putterborn 1956
- Ilona GusenbauerAustrian high jumperborn 1947
- Ilona ZrínyiPrincess Consort of Transylvania and Croatian noblewoman (1643-1703)
- Ilona NovákHungarian swimmer (1925–2019)
- Ileana SilaiRomanian athletics competitor1941–2025
- Ilona KoutnyEsperantist and linguistborn 1953
- Ilona KorstinRussian basketball player (born 1980)
- Ilona MasseyHungarian actress (1910-1974)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Ilona, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Lana is used as a given name and a surname. Lana is connected with Alana.
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Ellen
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>99% girls
Brynda
“a princess; wielding a sword”
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Brinda
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Edwena
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Kay
“filled with happiness; rejoicing”
17% boys · 83% girls