Iliana
il-ee-AN-ah
Iliana is the feminine form of Ilias, the Greek form of Elijah, or of the Bulgarian name Iliya. Through the Greek church tradition, Iliana carries associations with the prophet Elijah - whose name in Hebrew, Eliyahu, means “my God is Yahweh” - giving it deep Biblical resonance in Eastern Orthodox Christian communities.
In Bulgaria, Iliana has been a common woman's name for centuries, strongly associated with Orthodox name-day traditions. The name-day of Saint Elijah (Ilinden) on July 20 is one of the most celebrated in the Bulgarian calendar, and Iliana shares in that observance. The name appears throughout Bulgarian literature and folk song.
In American usage, Iliana functions as a melodic elaboration of Ileana or Elena, appealing to parents from Greek, Bulgarian, Romanian, and Spanish-speaking backgrounds, as well as families with no specific cultural connection who simply find the sound beautiful.
What the name Iliana means
Iliana has four syllables: il-ee-AH-na. It sits in a cluster of names including Eliana, Juliana, and Liliana that share the flowing -iana ending, one of the most popular suffixes in contemporary American girl naming. This makes Iliana both distinctive and immediately recognizable.
Iliana ranked No. 831 in the United States in 2024 with approximately 378 births. It has been climbing steadily since the mid-2010s, benefiting from both the -iana naming trend and broader interest in vintage, international names.
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Iliana
Iliana - similar names
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