Isla
Isla comes from the Scottish island of Islay (pronounced "EYE-la") — known for its peaty single-malt whisky. The name was originally a surname referring to someone from Islay, then became a first name. There is also a separate Spanish word "isla" meaning island, but the Scottish origin is the primary one for English-language use. Isla was rare outside Scotland until the early 2000s. Then it had one of the most dramatic rises in modern naming history — entering the US top 1000 in 2008 and the top 50 by 2020. The driver was Isla Fisher (born 1976), the Australian actress known for "Wedding Crashers" (2005) and "Confessions of a Shopaholic" (2009). The name's appeal is its combination of soft sound and Scottish elegance. I find Isla has a beautiful, flowing sound — the "Is" opening is soft, and the "la" ending is gentle. The single-syllable pronunciation ("EYE-la") is distinctive. The name now rivals Sophia and Olivia as one of the dominant girl names of the 2020s. Isla is a female name of Scottish origin that means "Island (from Scottish place name)". Soft, flowing, and Scottish. The name sounds modern. Islas tend to be elegant. US top 50 since 2020. Rapidly rising. Well-known people named Isla include Isla Fisher (actress), Isla (Scottish island), Isla (fictional, various), Isla (Spanish for island). Common variations and related forms of Isla include Islay (original place), Ila (variant), Isleen (Irish variant), Isline (modern).