| Gender | Female |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | Romanian, Spanish, Italian |
| Origin | |
| Word/name | Derived from Greek Ἑλένη (Helénē) |
| Meaning | "Light" or "torch" |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Elena, Ilena, Iliana, Ilona, Ilana |
| Nickname(s) | Ilea, Liana, Ana |
| Related names | Helen, Helena, Ilona |
Ileana is a feminine given name commonly used in Romanian and other Romance language-speaking countries such as Spain and Italy.
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. [1]
Ileana is primarily used in Romania and Moldova, but variants and related names appear in Italy, Spain, and other Romance language countries. [2]
In Romanian folklore, the name 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. She appears in numerous Romanian fairy tales as a symbol of purity and grace. [3]
