Island
An island or isle is a piece of land, distinct from a continent, completely surrounded by water. There are continental islands, which were formed by being split from a continent by plate tectonics, and oceanic islands, which have never been part of a continent.
Meaning & Origin of Island
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
An island or isle is a piece of land, distinct from a continent, completely surrounded by water. There are continental islands, which were formed by being split from a continent by plate tectonics, and oceanic islands, which have never been part of a continent.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Island
As a girl name
Island first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1998, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2024, when 68 Islands were born — ranking #2,573 that year. As of 2026, Island ranks #2,657 for girls with 65 births, rising sharply (+36% over the past five years). In total, more than 760 Islands have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Island first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2006, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 24 Islands were born — ranking #4,352 that year. As of 2026, Island ranks #4,352 for boys with 24 births, rising sharply (+153% over the past five years). In total, more than 139 Islands have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Island
Phonetically similar names — useful when Island is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Island
What does the name Island mean?
How popular is Island in 2026?
When was Island most popular?
In which U.S. states is Island most popular?
Is Island a unisex name?
What names go well with Island?
About the name Island
Island is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1998 and has accumulated 760 births in the dataset. Island's peak popularity came in 2024 when it ranked #2,573. Use the chart and map above to compare Island's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2024 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "I" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.