Isla Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: EYE-lah /ˈaɪ.lə/
Origin: Scottish; Spanish
Meaning: Scottish: island; Spanish: devoted to God
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Isla has its roots in the Scottish Gaelic word "isle," which means "island." This etymology can be traced back to the Old Norse word "ey," also meaning "island," reflecting the influence of Norse settlers in Scotland. The name is often associated with the Scottish island of Islay, which is known for its natural beauty and whisky production.
The transition of the name into English occurred as the Gaelic language and culture began to influence the English-speaking world, particularly during the medieval period when Scotland and England had significant interactions. Historically, Isla has been used as a given name since at least the 19th century, although it gained more widespread recognition in the 20th century.
One notable literary reference is in the works of Scottish authors who celebrated the beauty of the Scottish landscape, including its islands. The name has also been associated with various figures in Scottish history, although specific historical milestones are less documented compared to more common names.
The romantic imagery of islands in literature and poetry has contributed to the name's appeal, evoking a sense of tranquility and natural beauty. Culturally, Isla resonates with themes of nature and serenity, often symbolizing a connection to the earth and water.
The name's association with islands evokes notions of isolation and peace, which have made it a favored choice in various artistic expressions. Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Isie" have emerged, reflecting affectionate or familial connections.
Overall, Isla embodies a rich linguistic heritage and cultural significance, rooted in the natural landscapes of Scotland and the broader historical context of the British Isles.
Famous people named Isla
In this section, you will find notable people named Isla. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Isla who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Isla who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Isla Fisher is an actress best known for Wedding Crashers, Confessions of a Shopaholic, and Now You See Me.
Isla Blair is an actress best known for The Riddle of the Sands, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and The Last of the Blonde Bombshells.
Fictional characters named Isla
The following list of fictional characters named Isla is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Isla is a fictional character from the novel The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski. She is a powerful sorceress who plays a significant role in the story's magical conflicts.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Isla, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Isla. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Isla was first seen in the United States in 1886.
Isla has ranked as high as #90 nationally, which occurred in 2021, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Isla has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Isla is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Isla was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Isla (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 587 | |
| TX | 352 | |
| FL | 347 | |
| NY | 262 | |
| PA | 221 | |
| OH | 213 | |
| IL | 185 | |
| NC | 179 | |
| MA | 163 | |
| VA | 154 | |
| WA | 152 | |
| NJ | 150 | |
| MN | 130 | |
| IN | 130 | |
| CO | 122 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Isla.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5,367 |
| 2023 | 5,381 |
| 2022 | 5,284 |
| 2021 | 5,540 |
| 2020 | 4,579 |
| 2019 | 4,043 |
| 2018 | 3,410 |
| 2017 | 2,879 |
| 2016 | 2,521 |
| 2015 | 2,272 |
| 2014 | 2,135 |
| 2013 | 1,912 |
| 2012 | 1,385 |
| 2011 | 1,208 |
| 2010 | 1,099 |
| 2009 | 945 |
| 2008 | 493 |
| 2007 | 178 |
| 2006 | 92 |
| 2005 | 54 |
| 2004 | 35 |
| 2003 | 38 |
| 2002 | 29 |
| 2001 | 24 |
| 2000 | 37 |
| 1999 | 18 |
| 1998 | 25 |
| 1997 | 23 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 1995 | 16 |
| 1994 | 15 |
| 1993 | 7 |
| 1992 | 8 |
| 1991 | 10 |
| 1990 | 9 |
| 1989 | 7 |
| 1988 | 8 |
| 1987 | 8 |
| 1986 | 5 |
| 1985 | 11 |
| 1983 | 5 |
| 1982 | 6 |
| 1981 | 5 |
| 1979 | 5 |
| 1978 | 10 |
| 1977 | 6 |
| 1976 | 5 |
| 1965 | 5 |
| 1964 | 5 |
| 1963 | 5 |
| 1962 | 5 |
| 1953 | 7 |
| 1952 | 8 |
| 1951 | 9 |
| 1950 | 9 |
| 1949 | 7 |
| 1948 | 10 |
| 1947 | 8 |
| 1946 | 5 |
| 1945 | 8 |
| 1944 | 14 |
| 1943 | 9 |
| 1942 | 7 |
| 1941 | 17 |
| 1940 | 10 |
| 1939 | 15 |
| 1938 | 12 |
| 1937 | 15 |
| 1936 | 24 |
| 1935 | 19 |
| 1934 | 12 |
| 1933 | 21 |
| 1932 | 21 |
| 1931 | 20 |
| 1930 | 23 |
| 1929 | 25 |
| 1928 | 26 |
| 1927 | 20 |
| 1926 | 27 |
| 1925 | 25 |
| 1924 | 22 |
| 1923 | 34 |
| 1922 | 41 |
| 1921 | 26 |
| 1920 | 23 |
| 1919 | 31 |
| 1918 | 34 |
| 1917 | 34 |
| 1916 | 35 |
| 1915 | 22 |
| 1914 | 25 |
| 1913 | 22 |
| 1912 | 16 |
| 1911 | 11 |
| 1910 | 14 |
| 1909 | 9 |
| 1908 | 18 |
| 1907 | 12 |
| 1906 | 11 |
| 1905 | 16 |
| 1904 | 9 |
| 1903 | 6 |
| 1902 | 9 |
| 1901 | 9 |
| 1900 | 13 |
| 1899 | 6 |
| 1898 | 12 |
| 1897 | 5 |
| 1896 | 7 |
| 1895 | 8 |
| 1894 | 6 |
| 1893 | 7 |
| 1892 | 6 |
| 1891 | 7 |
| 1890 | 10 |
| 1889 | 5 |
| 1887 | 11 |
| 1886 | 7 |