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Ilir as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Ilir

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The baby name Ilir is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced ee-LEER (IPA: /iˈliɾ/).

Ilir is Albanian in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Albanian
Pronunciation: ee-LEER (IPA: /iˈliɾ/)

What is the meaning of the name Ilir ?

The baby name Ilir is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced ee-LEER (IPA: /iˈliɾ/).

Ilir is Albanian in Origin.

Ilir is an Albanian masculine name from the ethnonym Ilir, the Albanian term for "Illyrian," the ancient peoples of the western Balkans. The word is cognate with Latin Illyrius and Greek Illyrios. Its meaning is therefore "Illyrian" or "person from Illyria," a sense that for many Albanians evokes deep historical roots and cultural pride. It also echoes narratives of the Albanian National Awakening that linked identity to Illyrian ancestry.

As a given name, Ilir rose to prominence in the 20th century, especially in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, when indigenous, nonreligious names linked to national heritage were encouraged. It remains common in Albanian communities today. Variants and related forms include Iliri (used as a given name), Ilirjan/Ilirian; feminine Ilira and Iliriana/Ilirjana; and international spellings Ilyr or Illyr. Typical Albanian pronunciation approximates EE-leer.

Ilir has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Ilir

Ilir Meta Politician · Born 1969 · Albania Ilir Meta is an Albanian politician best known for serving as President of Albania from 2015 to 2022. He was also Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 and later served as Speaker of the Albanian Parliament from 2013 to 2017.

Ilir – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
AL Boys 0 #1 2,287 5,122
AL 0 #3 117 2,372
SI Boys 0 #18 456 3,402
SI 0 #56 24 1,612
GR Boys 0 #74 348 6,912
RS 0 #84 1 923
GR 0 #109 26 3,911
CY Boys 0 #131 1 3,473
RS Boys 0 #133 22 2,277
Switzerland Boys 2024 #135 3 1,769
CR 0 #165 1 5,526
SI Girls 0 #171 7 2,769
MT Boys 0 #177 3 4,064
Sweden Boys 2022 #180 3 1,509
HR 0 #180 2 2,081
AE 0 #187 1 10,220
AL Girls 0 #197 26 4,141
DK 0 #206 1 5,198
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
LU Boys 0 #213 8 4,970
BG Girls 0 #231 1 3,559
GR Girls 0 #241 9 6,293
HR Boys 0 #241 18 3,997
JP Boys 0 #303 1 7,909
CZ Boys 0 #304 2 6,530
DK Boys 0 #315 11 7,401
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
QA Girls 0 #343 1 15,378
Austria Boys 0 #364 79 2,180
France Boys 2018 #387 3 2,908
IT Boys 0 #399 2,736 10,046
CR Boys 0 #510 1 10,188
IQ Girls 0 #525 1 11,303
RU Boys 0 #526 1 12,621
PS Boys 0 #561 1 10,655
IR Boys 0 #563 3 10,162
IT 0 #622 93 4,183
IL Boys 0 #625 1 10,983
Finland Boys 2026 #662 21 3,552
Germany Boys 0 #663 306 5,697
IQ Boys 0 #697 1 13,071
QA Boys 0 #738 6 18,093
SY 0 #767 1 11,684
KW Boys 0 #806 1 18,755
TN 0 #864 2 13,765
United States Boys 2024 #886 7 7,044
EG Boys 0 #924 2 15,035
NL Boys 0 #926 26 5,873
BR Girls 0 #992 1 12,708
AE Boys 0 #1,139 5 22,615
MY Boys 0 #1,181 2 25,439
MA 0 #1,198 2 20,986
TR 0 #1,249 6 19,440
IT Girls 0 #1,416 31 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,691 1 28,008

Ilir is popular in 39 countries — most recent births per country:

Switzerland
Sweden
United States
France
AE

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People also ask about Ilir

Ilir is predominantly a boy's name.
Ilir is a 2 syllable name, pronounced ee-LEER (IPA: /iˈliɾ/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Ilirjan, Ilira, Ilire, Ilirjana and Liri.
Across languages, Ilir has these equivalents: Karl/Charles (Germanic, 'free man'), Frank/Francis (Frank = 'free'), Azad (Persian, 'free'), Azat (Armenian, 'free'), Libero (Italian, 'free').
Yes — Ilir ranked #135 in Switzerland in 2024, and appears in official birth registries across 5 countries.
Ilir ranks highest in Switzerland (#135 in 2024).
Ilir's popularity is rising. It moved from #143 in 2014 to #135 in 2024 in Switzerland.
Yes — 1 notable people named Ilir are in our database, including Ilir Meta (Politician).