Ilianna
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "the Lord's anointed" or "sun ray".
Name Census estimates that about 1,122 living Americans carry the first name Ilianna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ilianna today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ilianna births was 2010 (61 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ilianna. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Ilianna is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 17 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.1K
~ 1 in 305,485 Americans
Peak year
2010
61 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,133
Tracked since 1982
Popularity
Ilianna: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ilianna from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 436 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Ilianna remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ilianna by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ilianna during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Iliannas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. California, Texas, Arizona recorded the most babies named Ilianna, while New York, Arizona, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 122 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ilianna
Ilianna is a female given name with Greek origins. It is a modern variation of the ancient Greek name Ilian or Iliana, which is derived from the Greek word "Ilion," meaning Troy. The name can be traced back to the Homeric epics, particularly the Iliad, which recounts the story of the Trojan War.
In Greek mythology, Troy was a city located in present-day Turkey, and its fall was a pivotal event in the legendary conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans. The name Ilianna is closely associated with this historical and mythological context, evoking a connection to the ancient Greek world and the epic tales that have been passed down through generations.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. He mentions a woman named Iliana, who was a priestess of the goddess Athena in the city of Troy. This reference suggests that the name was in use during the classical period of ancient Greece.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ilianna. One of the most famous was Ilianna of Naxos (1215-1285), a Byzantine princess and the daughter of the ruler of the Duchy of Naxos in the Aegean Sea. She played a significant role in the political affairs of the region during the 13th century.
Another prominent figure was Ilianna Soutso (1798-1868), a Greek poet and philanthropist. She was born in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) and was known for her contributions to Greek literature and her support of educational initiatives in Greece.
In the field of music, Ilianna Sandrea (1927-2017) was a renowned Greek soprano. She had an illustrious career performing in major opera houses around the world and was celebrated for her interpretation of roles in operas by composers such as Verdi and Puccini.
Ilianna Douglas (born 1965) is an American actress and film producer. She has appeared in numerous movies and television shows, including the popular sitcom "Seinfeld" and the film "Cape Fear" (1991).
Ilianna Ayala (born 1989) is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter. She gained popularity in the Latin music industry with her debut album "Vuelve" (2011) and has since released several successful singles and collaborations.
These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse cultural backgrounds associated with the name Ilianna, which has been carried by individuals from various regions and eras, each leaving their unique mark on the world.
People
Ilianna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ilianna as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ilianna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ilianna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,122 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ilianna going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 305,485 US residents.
Is Ilianna a common name?
We classify Ilianna as "Rare". It ranks above 90.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,138 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ilianna most popular?
The single biggest year for Ilianna was 2010, when 61 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ilianna is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ilianna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ilianna in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.