Ilona
A girls’ name of Hungarian origin, meaning light, bright; a form of Helen.
Ilona by the numbers
In 2025, 5 babies in England and Wales were named Ilona. In the US, 28 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
It is used at about the same rate on both sides of the Atlantic.
Its American peak was 102 babies in 1946, making it a 1940s name.
Other names that come from Helen
Like Ilona, each of these traces back to Helen: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Elainabright light; a form of Helen1,137 in the US (2017)
- Lanabright or fair; a form of Helen or Alana185 in England and Wales (2025)
- Helenbright, shining light758 in the US (2017)
- Aleenabright, shining; a form of Helen or Alena150 in England and Wales (2025)
- Elainebright light; form of Helen506 in the US (2017)
- Alenabright, shining; form of Helen462 in the US (2017)
- Nelliebright shining one; diminutive of Helen458 in England and Wales (2025)
- Aileenbright; shining; a form of Helen454 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Ilona. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Sounds like Ilona
Names that are said the same way as Ilona, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
Other names that mean light
Like Ilona, each of these has light in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
Names about as common as Ilona
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