Illona
Fact sheet
- Name
- Illona
- Gender
- Girl name
- Syllables
- 3
Illona represents a rather rare Hungarian form of the name Helena.
What does the name Illona mean?
Illona is a Hungarian variant of Helena and carries the meanings 'the sunny one', 'the radiant one', 'the shining one', 'the bright one', 'the beautiful one', 'the torch', and 'the moon'. The name has ancient Greek roots, derived from the terms helénē (ἑλένη), meaning 'the torch', 'the light', or 'the shine', hēlios (ἥλιος), which describes 'the sun', 'sunlight', and 'sunbeams', and selēnē (σελήνη), which stands for 'the moon'. Other variants include Jelena, Yelena, Yalena, Ilona, Ilon, Ylona, Ylenia, Ilena, Ileana, Ilenia, Yelene, Jelene, Yellena, Jelenka, Jelka, Ilenka, Ylenka, Alenka, Olena, Olenna, Olenka, Jelin, Jelina, Ilonka, Ilka, Ilca, and Iluska. The name gained prominence through Greek mythology, where Helena is regarded as the daughter of Zeus and Leda and is celebrated as the most beautiful woman in the world. Additionally, Helena may also have an original connection to Helios, the sun god of the Greeks.
Where does the name Illona come from?
The name Illona has its roots in ancient Greek and means 'the sunny one' or 'the radiant one'. The word components come from ancient Greek: helénē for 'the torch', 'the light', or 'the shine', hēlios for 'the sun', 'sunlight', and 'sunbeams', as well as selēnē for 'the moon'. The name is common in Hungarian.
How do you pronounce Illona?
The pronunciation of Illona is melodic and consists of three to four syllables. The name is pronounced as 'Il-lo-na' [iˈloːna], with the emphasis often on the middle syllable with a prolonged 'o'. The vowels give the name a soft and harmonious sound. The open '-na' at the end provides a tonal spaciousness and warmth. Illona sounds elegant and friendly and possesses a sonorous, traditional character with a hint of Eastern European melody.
When is the name day of Illona?
The name days for Illona are celebrated on April 26, May 21, August 18, October 29, and November 15.
Popularity
In Germany, Illona is a rare first name. In 2014, it ranked 4,003rd on the list of the most common female baby names. Between 2010 and 2024, Illona was used as a first name in Germany fewer than 10 times, placing it 10,750th. In the last ten years, no child has received this name.
Famous people
- Illona Vincze-Kraus (pianist from Hungary)
Frequently asked questions about the name Illona
Where does the name Illona come from?
The name Illona has its roots in ancient Greek and is a Hungarian variant of the name Helena.
What does the name Illona mean?
Illona means 'the sunny one', 'the radiant one', and 'the beautiful one', and also has connections to terms like 'torch', 'sun', and 'moon'.
How popular is the name Illona?
Illona is common in Hungary and other countries with Slavic influences, but has variable popularity internationally.