Illinois - Meaning of Illinois

What does Illinois mean?

Pronounce
Illinois

[ 3 syll. il-li-noi(s), ill-ino-is ] The baby boy name Illinois is also used as a girl name. Its pronunciation is IHLAHNOY †. Illinois is derived from Native American origins. The name's meaning is he who speaks the regular way; from Illinois, USA. The name is ultimately from the Miami-Illinois branch of the Algonquian language, from the verb 'irenwewa', which was modified via the Ojibwe-Ottawa dialect into 'ilinwe', and finally via French influence into the borrowed '-ois' ending.

See also the related categories, french and american.

Illinois is unusual as a baby name for boys. It is not listed in the top 1000 names.

Baby names that sound like Illinois include Ealison, Iulian, Iulien, Eliakim, Eallison, Ilam, Ilem, Ilen, Illan, Illen, Illon, Illun, Ilum, Ilun, Ilyn, Elam, and Elum.

† English pronunciation for Illinois: IH as in "it (IH.T)" ; L as in "lay (L.EY)" ; AH as in "mud (M.AH.D)" ; N as in "knee (N.IY)" ; OY as in "toy (T.OY)"