What Does the Name Isla Mean?

Isla is a girl's name of Scottish origin meaning “from the island (river Islay).”

Updated June 2026

Name	Isla
Gender	female
Origin	Scottish
Meaning	from the island (river Islay)
Variants	Islay, Isabella, Ila
Popularity	Very popular in the UK and Australia (often top 10) and a fast-rising top-100 name in the US in the 2010s and 2020s.

The meaning and origin of Isla

The name Isla means “from the island (river Islay)” and has Scottish origins. Isla derives from the Scottish island and river Islay, and is also used as a feminine form related to the Spanish word for island. It rose sharply in popularity across the English-speaking world in the 2000s, helped by actress Isla Fisher.

Variants and related names

Isla is related to several other names you may recognize: Islay, Isabella, Ila. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Isla?

Very popular in the UK and Australia (often top 10) and a fast-rising top-100 name in the US in the 2010s and 2020s.

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