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Illyria

♀ Girl

Pronounced ih-LEER-ee-uh /ɪˈlɪr.i.ə/Medium

Meaning: Illyria was the classical name for a region along the eastern Adriatic, home to the Illyrian peoples. Shakespeare set Twelfth Night there, and the name has since been used occasionally as a given name. A modern television association exists too, which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: A place turned name: Illyria was an ancient Adriatic region — and the setting of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (said 'ih-LEER-ee-uh').

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Origin MediumLatin, Greek

MeaningIllyria was the classical name for a region along the eastern Adriatic, home to the Illyrian peoples. Shakespeare set Twelfth Night there, and the name has since been used occasionally as a given name. A modern television association exists too, which we note.

U.S. rank (2024)#14093 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2023

Total births (all-time)≈ 149

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

Illyria named an ancient territory on the eastern Adriatic, in what is now the western Balkans, and later gave the Roman province of Illyricum. Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is set there. It surfaces as a given name in the U.S., and also as a character on the show Angel, which we note (said 'ih-LEER-ee-uh').

It is very rare for girls in the U.S. Literary, geographic, and grand-sounding.

Did you know? Illyria was a real region on the Adriatic long before Shakespeare shipwrecked Viola there in Twelfth Night. More recently it was also a character name on the television series Angel — worth knowing, and we note it plainly.

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Illyria — Ancient Adriatic region; Shakespeare's Twelfth Night; TV character on Angel

Variations

IlyriaIlliriaIlyra

Nicknames

IllyLyraRia

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Illyria…

Ilaria— a near-rhyme with a classical feel

Lyra— the sound hidden in its middle

Valeria— a like grand four-beat classic

Aurelia— a like Latinate, literary pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Illyria mean?

Illyria is the classical name of a region on the eastern Adriatic, used as a place-name given name.

How do you pronounce Illyria?

It's said ih-LEER-ee-uh /ɪˈlɪr.i.ə/ — four syllables, stress on the second.

Is Illyria a boy or girl name?

Illyria is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Illyria?

Illyria is a very rare name for girls in the U.S.