What does Ivana mean?
Ivana is the Slavic feminine of John, “God is gracious.”
What does Milena mean?
Milena comes from the Slavic mil, “gracious,” “dear” or “loving.”
Ivana vs Milena
Which is more popular?
Milena is more popular than Ivana today: about 271 US babies were given the name Milena in 2025, compared with 217 named Ivana.
| Ivana | Milena | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is gracious | Gracious, dear |
| Origin | Slavic | Slavic |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ee-VAH-nah | mee-LEH-nah |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1943 | 1918 |
| Peak year | 2010 (266) | 2019 (428) |
| In 2025 | 217 | 271 |
| Trend | Steady | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ivana
Milena
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ivana | Milena |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,326 | 2,083 |
| 2010s | 2,020 | 3,218 |
| 2000s | 1,852 | 1,351 |
| 1990s | 1,934 | 457 |
| 1980s | 442 | 239 |
| 1970s | 300 | 231 |
| 1960s | 101 | 94 |
| 1950s | 47 | 39 |
| 1940s | 20 | 26 |
| 1920s | 0 | 6 |
| 1910s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ivana or Milena more popular?
Milena is more popular than Ivana today: about 271 US babies were given the name Milena in 2025, compared with 217 named Ivana.
What is the difference between Ivana and Milena?
Ivana means God is gracious (Slavic origin), while Milena means Gracious, dear (Slavic origin).
Which name is older, Ivana or Milena?
In US records, Ivana first appears in 1943 and Milena in 1918, so Milena has the longer recorded history.