[2] This fjord was named by Wilhelm August Graah after David Danell, a Dutchman who made three expeditions to Greenland in 1652-54 sent by King Frederick III of Denmark.

Iluileq Fjord extends in a roughly east–west direction for about 55 km between Kangerluluk to the north and Paatusoq to the south, the latter being much closer and running parallel to it.

To the east the fjord opens into the North Atlantic Ocean where the large Iluileq island lies on the northern side of its mouth rising to a height of 829 m (2,720 ft).

The fjord has a large active glacier at its head and its inner section is almost always encumbered with ice floes.

On its northern coast there is the sound separating Iluileq island from the mainland, as well as two branches with glaciers reaching down to the waterline.