Holding steady, #3,832 for girls today.
Popularity of Ilona since 1909
Babies named Ilona per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1946, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ilona's real moment was 1940.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 77 |
| 1920s | 106 |
| 1930s | 113 |
| 1940s | 738 |
| 1950s | 571 |
| 1960s | 374 |
| 1970s | 259 |
| 1980s | 174 |
| 1990s | 209 |
| 2000s | 282 |
| 2010s | 276 |
| 2020s | 148 |
Meaning & origin
The Hungarian name Ilona has a steady but modest presence in the United States since the early 20th century. It first appeared in Social Security records by 1909, and its peak popularity came in 1940, when it ranked higher than in any subsequent year. As of 2025, the name remains stable in usage, with a rank of 3,832 and an incidence of roughly one birth per 42,297 newborns. Ilona is rarely given in clusters; no top states have recorded significant concentrations. The name's meaning ties it to the classic Helen tradition, and it is sometimes considered a Hungarian form of Helen. While never common in America, Ilona appeals to families seeking a distinctive European name with melodic appeal.
Ilona is a Hungarian name of debated origin, most commonly linked to the Slavic 'Jelena' or Greek 'Helene', meaning 'light' or 'torch'. It has been used in Hungary since medieval times and spread to other European countries. The name gained some popularity in the United States in the early 20th century.
“Ilona” around the world
Where Ilona lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
155
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ili, Loni, Ilonka
Sibling names for Ilona
Names that share Ilona's style, for a brother or sister.
