Hungarian female given name, of uncertain origin. Interpretations vary from a popular but unfounded belief that the name represents the Magyar form of Helen, to an ancient word for "moon."

More probable, given the historic and pre-Magyar Jewish presence in the Danube area, is a link to Hebrew name Ilana, meaning "tree," which might be supported by the popular folk story of Ilona, the tree fairy, as found in Prince Argyilus And The Fairy Ilona in Nandor Pogány's Magyar Fairytales From Old Hungarian Legends.

Popular Culture

See also Ilona Mitrecey