Ilene
Ilene is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Torch, bright, or shining light.
Origin and history
Ilene is a feminine given name, long considered an English variant of Eileen, which traces back to the Greek name Helen. Historically popular in the United States during the mid-20th century, it has become much less common in recent decades.
Popularity in the United States
17,840 babies in the United States have been named Ilene since 1880. It ranks #1139 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1990.
States where it is most popular
- NY (21.3 %)
- CA (13.9 %)
- MI (11.4 %)
- PA (6.6 %)
- IL (6.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 41 |
| 1900-1910 | 161 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,065 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,606 |
| 1930-1940 | 2,585 |
| 1940-1950 | 3,202 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,432 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,867 |
| 1970-1980 | 718 |
| 1980-1990 | 622 |
| 1990-2000 | 508 |
| 2000-2010 | 607 |
| 2010-2019 | 315 |
| 2020-2029 | 111 |
Famous people named Ilene
- Ilene Graff: Actress, Singer
- Ilene Chaiken: Television Producer, Screenwriter
- Ilene Woods: Actress, Singer
Nicknames
Lene, Lena
Fun facts
- Ilene developed as an Americanized phonetic spelling variant of the Irish name Eileen.
- The name reached its peak popularity in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s.