Girl name · Scottish place name
Isla
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: from the island of IslayIsla is a girl's name that is of Scottish place name origin: from the island of Islay. It is used in English and Scottish.
- Meaning
- From the island of Islay
- Origin
- Scottish place name
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #28 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Isla
As a girl's name, Isla is of Scottish place name origin: from the island of Islay. It is used in English and Scottish.
In Scottish Gaelic, say EYE-la. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Isla on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Isla on 5 lists.
“Spanish for land surrounded by sea, breezy and simple”
From Empoleon nicknames, penguin, sea and ice names
“A Scottish name taken from a Hebridean isle, said EYE-la”
From Girl dog names, unique female dog names
“Shares its name with two Scottish rivers, said EYE-la”
From Highland cattle names, highland cow names from Scottish places
“Named for a southern Hebridean isle; Scotland's second girls' name in 2025. Say EYE-la.”
From Scottish girl names, popular and well-loved Scottish girl names
“Pretty name with a Spanish meaning: land in the sea”
From Axolotl names, girl and boy axolotl names
How popular is Isla?
- US rank in 2025
- #28
- 6,012 babies, 3,741 per million girls
- Best rank
- #28 in 2025
- 6,012 babies that year
- Babies since 1886
- At least 58,252
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 18 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 33 per million |
| 1900s | 38 per million |
| 1910s | 30 per million |
| 1920s | 23 per million |
| 1930s | 17 per million |
| 1940s | 7 per million |
| 1950s | 2 per million |
| 1960s | 1 per million |
| 1970s | 2 per million |
| 1980s | 3 per million |
| 1990s | 8 per million |
| 2000s | 104 per million |
| 2010s | 1,306 per million |
| 2020s | 3,308 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #127 | #103 | #82 | #57 | #44 | #34 | #36 | #33 | #35 | #28 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Isla
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- IslayFrom the island of Islay (Scottish place name, unisex)
Names spelled like Isla
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- IsaGod is my oath (Hebrew, girl)
- IshaRuler, lord (Sanskrit, girl)
- IsraNight journey (Arabic, girl)
- IdaWork, industrious (Germanic, girl)
- IngaNamed for Ing, a Germanic god (Old Norse, girl)
- IrmaWhole, great (Germanic, girl)
- IonaFrom the island of Iona (Scottish place name, girl)
- IaraLady of the water (Tupi, girl)
- IgaShort form of Jadwiga or Ignacja (Polish, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- HolgerIsland spear (Old Norse, boy)
- LindsayLincoln island (Old English, unisex)
- LyleIsland (Old French, boy)
- EydisIsland or good fortune and goddess (Old Norse, girl)
- EysteinIsland or good fortune and stone (Old Norse, boy)
- ItamarDate palm island (Hebrew, boy)
- IzaroIsland (Basque, girl)
- KelseyCēol's island (Old English, unisex)
- RodneyHroda's island (Old English, boy)
- SidneyWide island (Old English, unisex)
Middle names for Isla
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- BrookeSmall stream (Old English, girl)
- ClementineMerciful, gentle (Latin, girl)
- CosimaOrder, decency (Greek, girl)
- DaisyDay's eye (Old English, girl)
- DelphineFrom Delphi (Greek, girl)
- GabrielleGod is my strength (Hebrew, girl)
- NiamhBright, radiant (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- ZinniaFlower named for Johann Zinn (English, girl)
More girl names from Scottish place name
Isla: common questions
What does the name Isla mean?
Isla is of Scottish place name origin: from the island of Islay.
Is Isla a boy or girl name?
Isla is mainly a girl's name. In 2025, 6,012 girls and 7 boys in the US were named Isla, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Isla come from?
Isla is of Scottish place name origin: from the island of Islay. Today it is used in English and Scottish.
How popular is the name Isla?
Isla ranked #28 in the US in 2025, with 6,012 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Isla?
Forms of Isla with the same meaning and origin include Islay (Scottish).
What middle names go with Isla?
Middle names that flow well with Isla include Brooke, Clementine, Cosima, Daisy and Delphine. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.