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