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Home › Baby Names Directory › Ileana

Ileana

♀ Girl

Pronounced ih-lee-AH-nuh /ˌɪl.iˈɑː.nə/High

Meaning: sunshine, bright one, of the sunMedium

In 30 seconds: Ileana is a Romanian and Spanish name of Greek origin meaning sunshine or bright one. A lyrical four-syllable name popular in Eastern European and Latin American cultures.
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Origin MediumRomanian, Greek
Meaningsunshine, bright one, of the sun
U.S. rank (2025)#3180 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births50 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1991
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,615

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199119182025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ileana is the Romanian and Spanish form of the Greek name Ilia or Helena, from helios meaning sun. In Romanian folk tales, Ileana Cosânzeana is the archetypal beautiful princess.

Ileana is popular in Romania, Spain, and Latin American countries.

Did you know? In Romanian folklore, Ileana Cosânzeana is the most famous fairy-tale princess — a beautiful maiden whose golden hair and sun-radiant appearance have enchanted Romanian stories for centuries.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name: Ileana — name etymology referenceRomanian Name Studies — reference for IleanaUS Social Security Name Database — U.S. popularity data

Variations

IlianaElianaElena

Nicknames

IleaAna

Famous Bearers

  • ★Ileana Cosânzeana (mythological)
    Ileana Cosânzeana, a celebrated princess/fairy figure of Romanian folklore renowned as the ideal of feminine beauty.

If you like Ileana…

Eliana— similar Hebrew/Greek El+ana name
Iliana— single-i variant of same name
Adriana— four-syllable Latinate name of similar elegance
Aurora— four-syllable name with similar lyrical quality
Luisa— Spanish four-syllable classic of similar feel

Explore names like Ileana

By themegreekfour-syllableromaniansunnyfolklore
By meaningLightSun

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Frequently Asked

What does Ileana mean?

Ileana means sunshine or bright one, from Romanian and Greek Ilia/Helena (helios: sun).

How do you pronounce Ileana?

Ileana is pronounced ih-lee-AH-nuh (/ˌɪl.iˈɑː.nə/), with four syllables.

Is Ileana a girl's name?

Yes, Ileana is an exclusively feminine name.

How popular is the name Ileana?

Ileana is popular in Romania, Spain, and Latin American countries.

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