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 experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the course of a century, with a peak in usage occurring between 1955 and 1964. During this period, there were consistently high numbers of births with the name Ileana, ranging from 23 to 63 per year. However, starting around 1970, there was a notable decrease in popularity, with fewer than 60 births per year recorded annually until the late 1980s. Since then, the number of births with the name Ileana has remained relatively stable but low, typically ranging between 64 and 102 births per year. Overall, there have been a total of 5489 births recorded with the name Ileana since 1918.