Isla
Female nameScottish
✨ Meaning
Isla takes its name from the Scottish island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides and from two rivers of the same name in Scotland. The island name itself is of uncertain origin, probably pre-Gaelic, so the meaning is not recoverable. What the name reliably carries is a place: a windswept Atlantic island long known for its distilleries and its early Christian carved stones.
🌍 Origin
Isla was rare outside Scotland until the 1990s, when it rose with extraordinary speed to become one of the leading girls' names in Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Its success owes much to the same sound pattern that lifted Ella, Ayla and Isabella. The Spanish word isla, meaning island, is a separate word that happens to match the spelling.
📈 Popularity Trend
⭐ Famous People Named Isla
- Isla Fisher
- Isla Blair
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does Isla mean?
Isla comes from the Scottish island of Islay and from rivers of the same name. The place name's own origin is uncertain and probably pre-Gaelic.
How is Isla pronounced?
It is EYE-lah. The s is silent, following the pronunciation of the island name.
Is Isla the Spanish word for island?
Spanish isla does mean island, but that is a coincidence of spelling. The Scottish name comes from the place, not the Spanish word.