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Name Lineage

    The first name Ilona

    A girl’s name from Greek.

    Pronounced /ɪˈləʊnə/ 3 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Greek origin

    From Hungarian Ilona. A rare variant of Helen or Helena.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 5 girls were named Ilona, making it the 4,201st most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 19 births (#1,031).

    01020 1996200020052010201520202025
    244
    babies named Ilona, 1996–2025
    #4,201
    rank in 2025
    1996
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Ilona with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Ilona at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 38 girls born in the United States were named Ilona, the 3,861st most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1946, when 102 were.

    0100200 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    3,332
    babies named Ilona since 1880
    #3,861
    rank in 2025
    1946
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Ilona

    21 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Ilona Slupianek
      East German shot putter, born 1956
    • Ilona Gusenbauer
      Austrian high jumper, born 1947
    • Ilona Koutny
      Esperantist and linguist, born 1953
    • Ilona Maher
      American rugby player, born 1996
    • Ilona Usovich
      Belarusian sprinter, born 1982
    • Ilona Richter
      East German rower, born 1953
    • Ilona Mitrecey
      French singer, born 1993
    • Ilona Csáková
      Czech singer, born 1970
    • Ilona Burgrová
      Czech basketball player (born 1984)
    • Ilona Mononen
      Finnish middle distance runner, born 2003
    • Ilona Kabos
      (1893-1973) classical pianist
    • Ilona Békési
      Artistic gymnast, born 1953

    More Greek girls’ names

    All 347 names of Greek origin

    Questions

    What does the name Ilona mean?
    From Hungarian Ilona. A rare variant of Helen or Helena.
    What is the origin of the name Ilona?
    From Hungarian Ilona. A rare variant of Helen or Helena.
    How popular is the name Ilona?
    In 2025, 5 girls born in England and Wales were named Ilona, ranking 4,201st. Its peak was 1996, with 19 births.
    Is Ilona a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 3,332 US babies named Ilona since 1880 were girls.
    When was Ilona most popular?
    1946 in the United States, when 102 babies were named Ilona, its highest rank at 821st.
    How do you pronounce Ilona?
    Ilona is /ɪˈləʊnə/, 3 syllables.