Ileana is a name of Romanian origin, derived from the Latin word "Aelia", which means "noble". The name Ileana has a rich history and has been associated with several notable figures throughout time.
The name Ileana was popularized by Romanian royalty. Princess Ileana of Romania (1911-2016), who was also known as the Princess of Romania and a member of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, is one of the most well-known bearers of this name. She was the third child of King Ferdinand I of Romania and Queen Mary of Edinburgh.
Princess Ileana was known for her humanitarian work and her support for various charitable causes. After leaving Romania in 1948 due to the communist regime, she settled in the United States where she continued her philanthropic efforts until her death at the age of 105.
The name Ileana has also been used in literature and popular culture. In Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula", one of the characters is named Ileana, and the name has been used in several other works of fiction as well.
Today, Ileana continues to be a popular name choice for girls around the world, with its unique sound and noble meaning making it stand out among other names. It is often spelled in various ways, including Ileana, Ileanah, and Ieliana, but regardless of spelling, the name retains its Romanian heritage and regal connotations.
"Illeana seems to have experienced popularity spikes in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with a peak of 34 births in 2005, but has since declined, averaging around 6-9 births per year from 2015 onwards. Notably, there were no reported births for 2021."