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Isla-Mae

Girl name · 12 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Isla-Mae: 12 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 5 births in 2024.

Isla-Mae is a modern, hyphenated pairing of two popular Scottish names. Isla is derived from the name of the Scottish river and island, Islay, which itself may come from the Old Norse for “windswept” or the Gaelic for “island,” while Mae is a variant of May, from the Roman goddess Maia, symbolising growth. The combination is almost exclusively a 21st-century invention, rising sharply in use across Scotland after 2010. Famous bearers are few, which appeals to parents seeking a fresh yet familiar sound. It shares its first element with the Hebridean island of Islay, famed for its whisky distilleries, and the feminine variant May has historic links to the month of spring celebrations. The name’s lyrical, double-barrelled structure is particularly beloved in Scottish and Irish naming traditions.

Girl 3 of 52 years

Peak year
20245 babies
Latest (2024)
#5415 babies
Total births
12since 2020
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 · 5
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).