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Illene

♀ Girl

Pronounced ih-LEEN /ɪˈliːn/Medium

Meaning: Illene is a respelling of Ilene, a variant of Eileen, the Irish form of Helen from the Greek root often read as light or bright, so that older meaning is what the name carries.Low

In 30 seconds: Illene is a girl's name, a spelling of Ilene and Eileen, tied to Helen and the idea of light. It appeared for a small number of families in the early nineteen-forties (said ih-LEEN).

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Origin LowIrish, Greek

MeaningIllene is a respelling of Ilene, a variant of Eileen, the Irish form of Helen from the Greek root often read as light or bright, so that older meaning is what the name carries.

U.S. rank (1965)#6894 ↘ Falling

1965 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1941

Total births (all-time)≈ 368

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Illene is a double-l spelling of Ilene, itself a form of the Irish Eileen and ultimately of Helen. This variant was always scarce, reaching its modest high around 1941.

Never common, it was given to only a handful of girls a year, and it belonged to a mid-century moment when Eileen and its kin were in fashion. A girl named Illene at that peak would be in her mid-eighties today. Its soft two-beat sound has a gentle, old-fashioned grace.

Did you know? Illene traces back through Ilene and Eileen to Helen, a Greek name long associated with light or brightness, carried across centuries and spellings.

Overall data confidence 45%

References - Illene — Respelling of Ilene, variant of Eileen, Irish form of Helen, Greek, light

Variations

IleneEileenAileen

Nicknames

IllyLeen

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Illene…

Ilene— the standard spelling Illene varies

Eileen— the parent Irish name behind Ilene

Arlene— a like -lene name of the same era

Darlene— shares the soft two-beat mid-century sound

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Illene mean?

It is a spelling of Ilene and Eileen, forms of Helen, a Greek name linked to light or brightness.

How do you pronounce Illene?

It is said ih-LEEN /ɪˈliːn/, two syllables with the stress on the second.

Is Illene a boy or girl name?

Illene is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Illene?

It has always been rare, given to only a handful of girls a year at its peak in the early nineteen-forties.