Isla: meaning and UK use
By BabyNido editorial team · Published · Last updated
Name-specific desk research, reviewed 2026-10-07. Specialist name references explain etymology; ONS provides birth statistics. Neither guarantees a single meaning for every family using a spelling.
With JavaScript enabled, favourites can be saved in this browser. No account is needed.
What does Isla mean?
In Scottish and English use, Isla is a variant of Islay. The same spelling matches the Spanish word for island, but that is pronounced differently.
- Language or name family covered
- Scottish; also Spanish spelling
- Meaning or derivation
- Scottish form of Islay
- Our browsing group
- girl; modern, nature
Browsing groups describe our editorial shortlist, not rules about who may use a name. A name can cross languages and genders.
Sources for this entry — reviewed 2026-10-07:
Pronunciation and related forms
EYE-luh (English)
English respellings are approximate; IPA is labelled where used. Follow the pronunciation a person or family chooses, and check it with a speaker of the intended language if that connection matters to you.
Related forms recorded in the reference: Islay, Iyla. These may be full forms, diminutives or forms in another language; they are not necessarily pronounced alike or counted together in statistics.
How popular is Isla?
In 2025, 1,959 baby girls in England and Wales were registered as Isla, making it the 4th most popular girls’ name. That is the same position as in 2024. It has held a similar position for a decade (4th in 2015). Its best year in the ONS series was 2023, at 3rd. These figures cover England and Wales, not the whole UK.
- 2025 rank (girls)
- 4th
- 2025 registrations
- 1,959
- Best rank in this series
- 3rd (2023)
Every year from 1996 to 2025
| Year | Rank | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 1,959 |
| 2024 | 4 | 2,056 |
| 2023 | 3 | 2,337 |
| 2022 | 3 | 2,613 |
| 2021 | 3 | 2,683 |
| 2020 | 3 | 2,749 |
| 2019 | 3 | 2,981 |
| 2018 | 4 | 3,046 |
| 2017 | 3 | 3,373 |
| 2016 | 4 | 3,476 |
| 2015 | 4 | 3,474 |
| 2014 | 3 | 4,012 |
| 2013 | 5 | 3,526 |
| 2012 | 8 | 3,501 |
| 2011 | 15 | 2,849 |
| 2010 | 22 | 2,384 |
| 2009 | 30 | 1,908 |
| 2008 | 36 | 1,599 |
| 2007 | 65 | 964 |
| 2006 | 93 | 575 |
| 2005 | 125 | 432 |
| 2004 | 168 | 311 |
| 2003 | 200 | 233 |
| 2002 | 276 | 142 |
| 2001 | 317 | 115 |
| 2000 | 297 | 125 |
| 1999 | 286 | 124 |
| 1998 | 369 | 87 |
| 1997 | 380 | 84 |
| 1996 | 382 | 87 |
The sum of published counts in this 1996–2025 girls series is 53,805. This is a lower bound where years are suppressed, not the number of living people with the name. A best rank is the best position within this series; it does not establish an all-time record.
| Spelling | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| Islay | 6 | Not shown |
These are selected comparison spellings, not proof of a shared origin. Their counts are separate and should not be added to Isla. “Not shown” is not zero.
Selected hyphenated registrations starting with Isla in 2025: Isla-Rose: 94 (girls); Isla-Mae: 75 (girls); Isla-Rae: 39 (girls); Isla-May: 26 (girls). This selection includes up to four matching forms with at least ten registrations, not every compound name.
Sources: ONS release, 2025; girls' dataset; boys' dataset. Our 20 top-ten positions were checked against Table 1 in the 2025 workbooks. The history chart and spelling comparisons come from the separate ONS 1996–2025 workbook, checked 7 October 2026. Spelling variants are separate entries. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate statistics.
Try Isla with your surname
Preview the full name and initials below. This stays on this page, is not saved and is not sent to us. The preview does not check legal registration or passport rules.
- Say “Isla” followed by your surname, then add any middle names. Listen for repeated sounds or an unintended phrase.
- Write the full initials. Try the everyday form and any nickname you expect to use.
- Ask someone to read Isla without prompting, then decide whether explaining its spelling or pronunciation would bother you.
- If a cultural or family connection is important, confirm the intended language and written form before settling on a translation.
Names to compare with Isla
These suggestions share a browsing group and one or more of our style tags or source-context labels. They are taste comparisons, not etymological relatives or a popularity ranking.
- Junipernature, modern · The juniper tree
- Lunamodern, nature · Moon
- Poppynature, modern · The poppy flower
- Willownature, modern · The willow tree
- Wrennature, modern · The wren bird
- Amaramodern · Grace
Read the UK naming guide for the difference between inspiration lists and official statistics, or return to the full name finder.
Registering or changing the name
Once you decide on Isla, confirm the registration process for your UK nation with the register office. If you later want to change a registered name, the route depends on the circumstances and may require consent from people with parental responsibility.
Start with GOV.UK birth registration or GOV.UK guidance on changing a child’s name. Our registration guide and child name-change guide explain where to find the relevant official process.
Frequently asked questions
What does Isla mean?
In Scottish and English use, Isla is a variant of Islay. The same spelling matches the Spanish word for island, but that is pronounced differently.
How popular is Isla in the UK?
In 2025, 1,959 baby girls in England and Wales were registered as Isla, making it the 4th most popular girls’ name. That is the same position as in 2024. It has held a similar position for a decade (4th in 2015). Its best year in the ONS series was 2023, at 3rd. These figures cover England and Wales, not the whole UK.
How do you pronounce Isla?
The source records EYE-luh (English). English respellings are approximate; IPA is labelled where used. Regional accents and a person's own pronunciation can differ.