Ileana is a feminine given name commonly used in Romanian and other Romance language-speaking countries such as Spain and Italy.

Etymology and Meaning

The name ''Ileana'' is derived from the Greek name ''Helénē'' (Ἑλένη), meaning "torch" or "light." It is the Romanian and some Romance language forms of the name Helen, historically popular due to the legendary figure Helen of Troy.Behind the Name. "Ileana." https://www.behindthename.com/name/ileana

Usage

''Ileana'' is primarily used in Romania and Moldova, but variants and related names appear in Italy, Spain, and other Romance language countries.Room, Adrian. ''Dictionary of First Names''. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 1992.

Romanian Mythology

In Romanian folklore, the name Ileana is associated with the character ''Ileana Cosânzeana'', a beautiful and heroic fairy princess often portrayed as the idealized woman or goddess of love and beauty. Ileana Cosânzeana appears in numerous Romanian fairy tales as a symbol of purity and grace.Hasdeu, Bogdan Petriceicu. ''Legends and Folk Tales of the Romanians''. Bucharest, 1885.

People

Ileana

Princess Ileana of Romania Princess Ileana of Romania, also known as Mother Alexandra (5 January 1909 – 21 January 1991), was the youngest daughter of King Ferdinand I of Romania and his consort, Queen Marie. She was a great-granddaughter of Emperor Alexander II of Russ ...

(1909–1991) *

Ileana Beltrán Ileana Benita Beltrán Zulueta (born May 24, 1971, in Havana, Ciudad de la Habana) is a retired female judoka from Cuba. She twice competed for her native country at the Summer Olympics in the Women's Half-Middleweight (– 61 kg) division ...

, Cuban

judo is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, combat sport, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyc ...

ka * Ileana Cabra, Puerto Rican singer *

Ileana Citaristi Ileana Citaristi is an Italian Odissi and Chhau dance, Chhau dancer, and dance instructor based in Bhubaneswar, India. She was awarded the 43rd National Film Awards, 43rd National Film Awards for National Film Award for Best Choreography, Best C ...

, Italian dancer *

Ileana Cosânzeana Ileana Cosânzeana is a figure in Folklore of Romania, Romanian mythology. She is represented as a beautiful and good-natured princess or daughter of an Emperor,Ileana Cotrubaș Ileana Cotrubaș (; born 9 June 1939) is a Romanian operatic soprano whose career spanned from the 1960s to the 1980s. She was much admired for her acting skills and facility for singing opera in many different languages. Life and career Cotru ...

, Romanian opera soprano *

Illeana Douglas Illeana Hesselberg ( ; born July 25, 1961), known professionally as Illeana Douglas, is an American actress and filmmaker. She appeared in three episodes of '' Six Feet Under'', for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination as Outsta ...

, American actress *

Ileana D'Cruz Ileana D'Cruz (born 1 November 1986) is a Portuguese actress who primarily appears in Telugu and Hindi films. She is the recipient of several accolades including a Filmfare Award and a Filmfare Awards South. D'Cruz made her screen debut in 2 ...

, Indian-born Portuguese actress *

Ileana Gyulai-Drîmbă-Jenei Ileana Gyulai-Drîmbă-Jenei ( Hungarian: Ilona Gyulai, 12 June 1946 – 25 August 2021) was a Romanian foil fencer. She competed at the 1964, 1968, 1972, and 1976 Olympics and won team bronze medals in 1968 and 1972, placing fifth in 1964. She ...

, Romanian fencer *

Ileana Márquez Ileana del Carmen Márquez Pedroza (born 19 March 1996) is a Venezuelan beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Venezuela 2023. She was the first mother to win the Miss Venezuela title. She represented Venezuela at Miss Universe 2024, w ...

(born 1996), Venezuelan beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Venezuela 2023 *

Ileana Ongar Ileana Ongar (born 24 March 1950 in Alexandria) is a former Italian hurdler, that was 8th at 1976 Summer Olympics (110 m hs) and earned four medals at the Mediterranean Games. Biography Ileana Ongar participated at one edition of the Summer Olym ...

, former Italian hurdler *

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen ( ; ; born July 15, 1952) is an American politician and lobbyist from Miami, Florida, who represented from 1989 to 2019. By the end of her tenure, she was the most senior U.S. Representative from Florida. She was Chairwoman ...

, member of the US House of Representatives *

Ileana Salvador Ileana Salvador (born 16 January 1962) is a former Italian race walker who won eight medals at the World Championships and European Championships In 2005 she acquired Swedish citizenship. Biography She won ten medals, to senior level, at the In ...

, former Italian race walker *

Ileana Sararoiu Ileana is a feminine given name commonly used in Romanian and other Romance language-speaking countries such as Spain and Italy. Etymology and Meaning The name ''Ileana'' is derived from the Greek name ''Helénē'' (Ἑλένη), meaning "tor ...

(1936–1979), Romanian singer *

Ileana Silai Ileana Silai (née ''Gergely'' on 14 October 1941) is a retired Romanian middle-distance runner. She competed in the 800 m at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympics and in the 1500 m at the 1976 and 1980 Olympics. She won a silver over 800 m in 1968. A ...

, Romanian runner *

Ileana Sonnabend Ileana Sonnabend (née Schapira, October 29, 1914 – October 21, 2007) was a Romanian-American art dealer of 20th-century art. The Sonnabend Gallery opened in Paris in 1962 and was instrumental in making American art of the 1960s known in Europe, ...

, Romanian art dealer

Iliana

Iliana Biridakis Iliana Biridakis (; born September 29, 1959) is a retired Jordanian Olympic archer. She represented Jordan at 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city o ...

, Jordanian archer *

Iliana Fox Iliana Fox (born Iliana Jan Fox Gaitán on 3 January 1977) is a Mexican actress. Fox grew up in Mexico, but with periods of residence in Canada and the UK. She has participated in various telenovelas such as ''Machos'' and ''Mirada de Mujer: E ...

, English-born Mexican actress * Iliana Hernández, Cuban journalist *

Iliana Ivanova Iliana Naydenova Ivanova (; born 14 September 1975) is a Member of the European Court of Auditors since 2025. She previously served as European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth between 2023 and 2024. Early life ...

, Bulgarian politician and economist *

Iliana Nikolova Iliana Nikolova is a Bulgarian sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. She won a silver medal in the K-4 500 m event at the 1978 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of ...

, Bulgarian canoe sprinter *

Iliana Ortega Iliana Ortega (born in Mexico City, Mexico) is a contemporary visual artist who works with photography, painting, drawing, site-specific installation, and video. Biography Ortega spent the first ten years of her career using the language of site- ...

, Mexican artist *

Iliana Raeva Iliana Raycheva Raeva-Sirakova (; ; born 15 March 1963) is a Bulgarian gymnast who competed in modern rhythmic gymnastics for her country from 1978 to 1983 . She was one of the Golden Girls of Bulgaria that dominated Rhythmic Gymnastics in 1980 ...

, Bulgarian gymnast *

Iliana Ruzza Iliana Josefa Ruzza Terán is a Venezuelan public official who has held different financial positions during the administrations of Hugo Chávez and later of Nicolás Maduro, including director of the board of directors of the Central Bank of Vene ...

, Venezuelan public official *

Iliana Yotova Iliana Malinova Iotova (; born 24 October 1964) is a Bulgarian politician who has been serving as Vice President of Bulgaria since 2017. She was the running mate of Rumen Radev, who defeated GERB nominee Tsetska Tsacheva in the second round of ...

, Bulgarian politician

Places

Ileana Ileana is a feminine given name commonly used in Romanian and other Romance language-speaking countries such as Spain and Italy. Etymology and Meaning The name ''Ileana'' is derived from the Greek name ''Helénē'' (Ἑλένη), meaning "tor ...

, a commune in Călăraşi County, Romania * Ileana, a village in

Glodeanu Sărat Glodeanu Sărat is a commune in Buzău County, Muntenia, Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to t ...

Commune, Buzău County, Romania *

Ilenuța Ilenuța is a village in Fălești District, Moldova Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania ...

, a village in Fălești District, Moldova

Fictional characters

* Illeana Scott, played by

Angelina Jolie Angelina Jolie ( ; born Angelina Jolie Voight, , June 4, 1975) is an American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian. The recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Angelina Jolie, numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards ...

in ''Taking Lives''

Literature

References

{{given name Romanian feminine given names Spanish feminine given names Feminine given names