Ilona
From Hungarian Ilona. A rare variant of Helen or Helena.
Every Ilona since 1909 — 3,332 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ilona
Ilona is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #3,861 in 2025 with 38 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1909, 3,332 American babies have been named Ilona. Its peak came in 1946, when 102 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1940s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ilona stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ilona year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 38 | #3,861 |
| 2024 | 28 | #4,815 |
| 2023 | 17 | #6,769 |
| 2022 | 22 | #5,704 |
| 2021 | 19 | #6,262 |
| 2020 | 24 | #5,222 |
| 2019 | 30 | #4,585 |
| 2018 | 29 | #4,702 |
| 2017 | 28 | #4,855 |
| 2016 | 35 | #4,192 |
| 2015 | 36 | #4,099 |
| 2014 | 19 | #6,551 |
| 2013 | 22 | #5,896 |
| 2012 | 26 | #5,307 |
| 2011 | 24 | #5,625 |
| 2010 | 27 | #5,160 |
| 2009 | 22 | #6,184 |
| 2008 | 32 | #4,690 |
| 2007 | 33 | #4,504 |
| 2006 | 26 | #5,291 |
| 2005 | 37 | #3,903 |
| 2004 | 34 | #4,125 |
| 2003 | 23 | #5,297 |
| 2002 | 27 | #4,545 |
| 2001 | 21 | #5,433 |
| 2000 | 27 | #4,453 |
| 1995 | 22 | #4,576 |
| 1990 | 29 | #3,655 |
| 1985 | 16 | #4,710 |
| 1980 | 23 | #3,543 |
| 1975 | 28 | #2,701 |
| 1970 | 40 | #2,058 |
| 1965 | 34 | #2,010 |
| 1960 | 35 | #1,937 |
| 1955 | 43 | #1,560 |
| 1950 | 72 | #1,086 |
| 1945 | 56 | #1,041 |
| 1940 | 75 | #824 |
| 1935 | 8 | #3,282 |
| 1930 | 11 | #2,760 |
| 1925 | 8 | #3,841 |
| 1920 | 8 | #3,768 |
| 1915 | 9 | #2,994 |
| 1910 | 6 | #2,268 |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Ilona
- Ilona Staller Pornographic actor · b. 1951
- Ilona Zrínyi Politician · 1643–1703
- Ilona Elek Fencer · 1907–1988
- Ilona Slupianek Athlete · b. 1956
- Ilona Massey Actor · 1910–1974
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ilona mean?
From Hungarian Ilona. A rare variant of Helen or Helena.
How popular is the name Ilona in 2025?
Ilona ranked #3,861 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 38 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ilona?
3,332 babies have been named Ilona in the United States since 1909, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ilona most popular?
Ilona peaked in 1946, when 102 newborns received the name.
Is Ilona a boy or girl name?
Ilona is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Ilona rising or falling?
Ilona is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Ilona?
Well-known people named Ilona include Ilona Staller (pornographic actor), Ilona Zrínyi (politician), Ilona Elek (fencer).