Ilona

Ilona is a Hungarian female given name, the traditional name of the Queen of the Fairies in Magyar folklore.

Its etymology is uncertain. A common myth is that Ilona is cognate with the Greek given name Helen. Another possibility for its etymology is from Romanian name Ileana, which in term is a derivative from Elena or Helena. In Romania folklore Ileana Cosanzeana (translated lyrically to Ileana "Golden Locks") is also a fairy queen.

Diminutive forms include Ilonka and Ilike.

Ilona is a common name in Finland, where it is considered to refer to the Finnish word ilo ("joy") and ilona literally means "as a joy [to someone]". It is also common in Lithuania, Estonia, Poland (formerly in crown union with Hungary) and in France.