Isla
/EYE-lə/
Isla is a girl name of Scottish origin, meaning From the island of Islay.
- GenderGirl
- OriginScottish
- StyleModern
- Syllables2
- US rank#43
What does Isla mean?
From the island of Islay
Isla comes from Islay, the Hebridean island, and from the River Isla in Scotland. The Spanish word isla, "island", is a coincidence rather than a source, though it reinforces the association.
The story behind the name
Isla is a genuinely modern name: it barely appears in records before the twentieth century, and its use as a given name is a Scottish invention of the Victorian period at the earliest.
It rose extremely quickly in the United Kingdom from the 1990s, reaching the top five in Scotland and England, and it has been climbing in the United States, Australia and New Zealand since.
Its appeal is largely phonetic: two syllables, no hard consonants, and a spelling that looks more elaborate than it sounds.
Notable people named Isla
- Isla Fisher, actor
- Isla Blair, actor
How popular is Isla?
Isla has been given to 30,597 babies in the United States since 1886, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
About 1 in 363 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.
Variants and related names
Other spellings: Islay, Ayla, Isla-Rose
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Start swiping - it's freeFrequently asked questions about Isla
What does the name Isla mean?
Isla means From the island of Islay. It is of Scottish origin.
Is Isla a boy's or a girl's name?
Isla is most often given to girls.
How do you pronounce Isla?
Isla is pronounced EYE-lə.
How popular is the name Isla?
Isla has been given to 30,597 babies in the United States since 1886, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
What are other spellings of Isla?
Common variants include Islay, Ayla, Isla-Rose.