Ileana is a feminine given name of Romanian origin. It is derived from the Romanian word "ileana," which means "queen." The name Ileana is believed to have originated from the Romanian noble family of Ilie, who were prominent in the 14th century.
The name Ileana was popularized by Queen Marie of Romania, born Princess Maria Victoria of Edinburgh, who adopted this name upon her marriage to King Ferdinand I of Romania. Queen Marie was a member of the British royal family and was known for her philanthropic work and her support for Romanian culture and education during her reign from 1914 to 1927.
Today, Ileana is considered a traditional feminine given name in Romania and other Eastern European countries. It is often spelled "Ileana" in Romanian, but it can also be found in other spellings such as "Ielena," "Iliana," or even "Helena." Despite its Romanian origin, the name has gained popularity around the world and can now be found among speakers of various languages and cultures.
The name Ileana has had a fluctuating popularity in the United States over the past century, with significant peaks and valleys in its usage.
In the early 20th century, the name saw some use, with around 5-6 births per year between 1918 and 1925. However, it experienced a notable surge in popularity in 1926, with a total of 44 births that year. This high was followed by a decline, with fewer than 30 births each year from 1927 to 1932.
After a period of low usage, the name began to regain some traction in the mid-20th century. There were around 5-10 births per year between 1945 and 1953. Then, beginning in 1954, the name saw a steady increase in popularity, with over 20 births each year until reaching a peak of 63 births in 1964.
This trend continued through the late 1960s and early 1970s, with around 30-60 births per year. The name then experienced another decline, dropping to fewer than 25 births per year between 1978 and 1980.
However, starting in 1981, the popularity of Ileana began to rise again significantly. It peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with over 130 births each year from 1989 to 1992. This high level of usage was maintained until around the turn of the century.
In recent years, the popularity of Ileana has continued to fluctuate but has generally been stable, with around 60-100 births per year between 2000 and 2023. Overall, since 1918, there have been a total of 5489 births in the United States named Ileana.