Girl · #4,765 in 2026

Islay

Name: Popularity of the name Islay in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Islay, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Islay is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Known as "The Queen of the Hebrides", it lies in Argyll and Bute just south west of Jura and around 40 kilometres north of the Northern Irish coast. The island's capital is Bowmore where the distinctive round Kilarrow Parish Church and a distillery are located. Port Ellen is the main port.

Current Rank

#4,765

Peak Rank

#3,154 (2021)

Total Babies

412

5-Yr Trend

+5%

1999

First Year

2026

Last Year

2021

Peak Year

#3154

Peak Rank

412

Total Count

Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Islay

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history

Port nan Gallan, The Oa , with the shadowy outline of Kintyre (mainland Scotland) in the far distance

The Story of Islay

Islay first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1999, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2021, when 51 Islays were born — ranking #3,154 that year. As of 2026, Islay ranks #4,765 for baby girls with 28 births, holding steady (+5%). In total, more than 412 Islays have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Islay

Phonetically similar names — useful when Islay is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Ously
Aslo
Mislay
Asli
Isly
Esli
Issei
Elais
Eisley
Owsley
Isaly
Ousley

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Islay

What does the name Islay mean?

How popular is Islay in 2026?

In 2026, Islay ranks #4,765 among girls' names in the U.S., with 28 babies given the name that year.

When was Islay most popular?

Islay reached its peak popularity in 2021, ranking #3,154 that year with 51 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Islay most popular?

Islay has historically been most popular in Washington, Indiana, California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Islay.

Is Islay a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Islay is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.

What names go well with Islay?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Islay include Halsey, Raevyn, Ivoree. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Islay

Islay is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1999 and has accumulated 412 births in the dataset. Islay's peak popularity came in 2021 when it ranked #3,154. Use the chart and map above to compare Islay's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.