Ileana
| 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.
Etymology and Meaning
[edit]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]
Usage
[edit]Ileana is primarily used in Romania and Moldova, but variants and related names appear in Italy, Spain, and other Romance language countries.[2]
Romanian Mythology
[edit]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.[3]
People
[edit]Ileana
[edit]- Princess Ileana of Romania (1909–1991)
- Ileana Beltrán, Cuban judoka
- Ileana Cabra, Puerto Rican singer
- Ileana Citaristi, Italian dancer
- Ileana Cosânzeana, figure in Romanian mythology
- Ileana Cotrubaș, Romanian opera soprano
- Illeana Douglas, American actress
- Ileana D'Cruz, Indian-born Portuguese actress
- Ileana Gyulai-Drîmbă-Jenei, Romanian fencer
- Ileana Márquez (born 1996), Venezuelan beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Venezuela 2023
- Ileana Ongar, former Italian hurdler
- Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, member of the US House of Representatives
- Ileana Salvador, former Italian race walker
- Ileana Sararoiu (1936–1979), Romanian singer
- Ileana Silai, Romanian runner
- Ileana Sonnabend, Romanian art dealer
Iliana
[edit]- Iliana Biridakis, Jordanian archer
- Iliana Fox, English-born Mexican actress
- Iliana Hernández, Cuban journalist
- Iliana Ivanova, Bulgarian politician and economist
- Iliana Nikolova, Bulgarian canoe sprinter
- Iliana Ortega, Mexican artist
- Iliana Raeva, Bulgarian gymnast
- Iliana Ruzza, Venezuelan public official
- Iliana Yotova, Bulgarian politician
Places
[edit]- Ileana, a commune in Călăraşi County, Romania
- Ileana, a village in Glodeanu Sărat Commune, Buzău County, Romania
- Ilenuța, a village in Fălești District, Moldova
Fictional characters
[edit]- Illeana Scott, played by Angelina Jolie in Taking Lives
Literature
[edit]- Ileana Cosânzeana, a figure in Romanian folk literature
- Ileana Sinziana, a Romanian fairy tale
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Behind the Name. "Ileana." https://www.behindthename.com/name/ileana
- ^ Room, Adrian. Dictionary of First Names. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 1992.
- ^ Hasdeu, Bogdan Petriceicu. Legends and Folk Tales of the Romanians. Bucharest, 1885.
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