How to say it
EYE · luh
ˈaɪ.lə
Feminine
Isla
Island
What it means
From the Scottish Gaelic place name Islay, an island in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland (famous now for peated whisky).
Isla started as a place name and became a first name in Scotland in the early 20th century. It crossed into mainstream UK use in the 2000s, helped by actresses Isla Fisher and Isla St Clair. The US adoption came later and the name is currently climbing fast into the top hundred for girls. The proper pronunciation is EYE-luh with a silent S, the Scottish way; American readers expecting English spelling rules sometimes say IZ-la, which is understandable but not how Scotland says it.
How to spell Isla
The standard spelling is Isla. Common variants include Islay, Ila, but Isla is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #28 in 2025, currently #28 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
EYE-luh. The S is silent, the way it is in island. Not IZ-luh.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Isla Fisher Australian actress, Wedding Crashers and Now You See Me
Spelling variants
- Islay
- Ila
Names with the same feeling
See Isla from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Isla mean?
- From the Scottish Gaelic place name Islay, an island in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland (famous now for peated whisky).
- What does Isla mean in Scottish Gaelic?
- In Scottish Gaelic, Isla means "Island." Isla started as a place name and became a first name in Scotland in the early 20th century. It crossed into mainstream UK use in the 2000s, helped by actresses Isla Fisher and Isla St Clair. The US adoption came later and the name is currently climbing fast into the top hundred for girls. The proper pronunciation is EYE-luh with a silent S, the Scottish way; American readers expecting English spelling rules sometimes say IZ-la, which is understandable but not how Scotland says it.
- How do you pronounce Isla?
- Isla is pronounced ˈaɪ.lə. Say it as EYE-luh, with the stress on the "eye" syllable.
- How do you spell Isla?
- The standard spelling is Isla. Common spelling variants include Islay, Ila.
- Is Isla a boy or girl name?
- Isla is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Isla?
- Isla ranked #28 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.