There is a legend related to the name of the island, Islay. According to Peggy Earl, author of “Tales of Islay: Fact and Folklore,” it is said that a Danish Princess called Iula or Yula left Denmark with an apron full of stones of different sizes. On her journey, the stones fell out to form Ireland and many islands between Ireland and Scotland. And perhaps Islay got its name from this princess. Isla is also the name of two rivers in Scotland. The name also has Spanish origins, as the word Isla means “island” in Spanish.
How Popular Is the Name Isla?
The original form of the name was “Ilay” or “Islay,” which were masculine names, and rarely used for girls. Today the name Isla is extremely popular for girls not only in Scotland, England, and Wales, but also in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. Isla was first featured in the Top 1,000 popular names in the U.S. in 1905, according to the latest Social Security Administration 2020 data. But it gained the most popularity in the last 10 years, featuring at No. 297 in 2010 and entering the Top 200 names for girls in 2013. Since then, the name has been climbing the ranks reaching the Top 100 popular names in 2018, with 2020 being its most popular year when it ranked at No. 44. The name Isla is more popular than its other variations, “Ila” or “Iyla.”
Similar Names
Similar sounding names to Isla:
Amelia Arya Ava Ayla Cora Eira Ella Layla Luna Mila Talia Willa
Other Scottish names:
AileenAlisonAnnabelAnsleyBonnie CatrionaDavinaElsaFionaIonaKirstyKylieLaineyLeanaLornaMaisieMakennaPaisleyRorySkye
Other names starting with I:
Ila Imogen Inaaya Inara India Indigo Ira Irene Iris Isabella Ishani Ivana Ivanka Ivy Izzi
Common Nicknames
Common nicknames for Isla include:
IsaIslesIssieIssyIzzyLala
Suggested Sibling Names
Looking for a sibling name for Isla? Here are some popular options:
AaronAlecGemmaHugoMiloMiraNinaNolanPhoebeTessa
Famous People Named Isla
Some notable people who share the name Isla are:
Isla Blair, an English actress and singerIsla Cameron, a Scottish-born English actressIsla Fisher, an Australian actressIsla St Clair, a Scottish singer and actressIsla Stewart, an English nurse
Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: 50 Scottish Baby Names Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names in the U.S. 100 Spanish Baby Names
