Ilona Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Ilona is a name of Hungarian origin derived from the Greek name Helene, meaning 'light' or 'torch'. It has evolved through historical forms like Helen and Helena. The name is positively perceived and remains popular in contemporary culture, particularly in Hungary. There is no significant biblical relevance associated with the name.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Ilona"
Pronunciation
/iˈloʊ.nə/
Origin
Hungarian
Etymology
Ilona is derived from the Hungarian form of the name Helen, which itself comes from the Greek name Helene, meaning 'torch' or 'light'.
Meaning
light, torch
Language Evolution
Helen (Greek), Helena (Latin), Ilona (Hungarian)
Historical Usage
Ilona has been used in Hungary since the Middle Ages and gained popularity in the 20th century, especially among Hungarian speakers.
Variants & Derivatives
Helena, Ilonka, Ilon, Ilona
Modern Popularity & Image
Ilona is viewed positively and is associated with beauty and brightness. It remains a popular name in Hungary and among Hungarian communities worldwide.
Famous People
Ilona Staller, an Italian politician and former adult film star, Ilona Andrews, an American author duo known for their urban fantasy novels
📊 Ilona Name Trend Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Ilona Name Visualizations
✨ Ilona Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 102 peak births in 1946
Geographic Spread
Popular across 12 US states, with strongest presence in New York
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 7 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Ilona"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Ilona"
"Ilona" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2952nd of 9107 | 168 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1421st of 9204 | 539 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1355th of 12526 | 1,109 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2669th of 19264 | 450 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 4825th of 27321 | 291 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 4899th of 35406 | 428 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 5135th of 30306 | 308 |
Regional Popularity of "Ilona" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Ilona" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
100.00% 1379th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
66.82% 1033rd/1546 |
45.57% 709th/1556 |
- |
84.16% 1302nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
48.77% 1086th/2227 |
34.12% 829th/2430 |
- |
52.61% 1460th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
95.27% 2798th/2937 |
52.37% 1824th/3483 |
100.00% 3518th/3518 |
50.94% 2060th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
75.62% 3384th/4475 |
- |
80.86% 5108th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
69.33% 3580th/5164 |
- |
45.64% 3406th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
87.74% 3937th/4487 |
- |
62.95% 3951st/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Ilona"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Ilona" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Ilona" in the United States
The name Ilona is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Ilona has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Ilona' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2952nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1421st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1355th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2669th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4825th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4899th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5135th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Ilona' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.