The name of ‘Isla’ originates from Scotland and dates back to the early 20th century. Miss Fisher is named after the Scottish Inner Hebrides island of Islay, as both her parents are Scottish. ‘Isla’ is also the name of two rivers in Scotland. The name is often mispronounced, and the correct way to say it is ‘EYE-la’.

“You know, my name is actually quite a popular name in Scotland. People elsewhere always think it’s far more exotic than it is. In Scotland, it’s a common name.” – Isla on her name

Isla has become a more popular name in recent years, probably in part because of the rising popularity of Miss Fisher herself! It moved into the top 1,000 baby names in the US for the first time in 2008, ranking at #619, and jumped up to #297 in 2010. It was the 5th most popular name for baby girls in Scotland in 2010, and is continuously a highly popular name there. It has also grown in popularity in England/Wales (#22 in 2010) and the New South Wales region of Australia (#32 in 2010). BabyNames.co.uk report that there were 1,592 recorded births of girls given the name of ‘Isla’ in the UK in 2008. The name ‘Isla’ flew up the rankings in England and Wales in 2014, and was the 3rd most popular girls name, with a recorded 4,021 babies being given this name; this was up from 311 in babies in 2004.

Kabalarians.com offers an analysis of the name Isla, as well as those of some of Isla’s characters, including Becky, Gloria and April. Read them below – do you think they are accurate? For more information on name origins and history, check out BabyNameWizard.com, BabyNames.co.uk and BehindTheName.com.

 

• Your first name of Isla has given you energy, drive, and ambition, but also an almost excessively strong-willed and independent nature. While you are creative, inventive, and ingenious in practical matters, and always ready to initiate and promote new undertakings, you often experience difficulty in bringing your undertakings to a successful conclusion because of your own changing interests or changing circumstances. Though the name Isla creates the urge to be creative and original, we call attention to the challenge of controlling temper as a result of a highly intense, dissatisfied, and restless quality. This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success, as well as cause health weaknesses or accidents to the head, worry and mental tension.

• As Jodi (Grimsby) you are rather serious-minded, responsible, and stable. You have the gift of tact and diplomacy, and possess a charming, easy-going nature which endears you to others. You have a serious desire to understand the heart and mind of everyone, and could be very effective in a career or in volunteer work where you are handling people and serving in a humanitarian way. This name also gives you a love of home and family, and as a parent you would likely be fair and understanding. You remember the thoughtful little expressions of affection and appreciation that mean so much to others, and you have the ability to create a warm and loving environment. However, you tend to put things off and avoid facing issues because of a lack of confidence and uncertainty. You often need encouragement from someone before you can come to a decision.

• Your name of Eveleigh (Visions) has created a practical, responsible, stable nature, and you desire to direct the efforts of others rather than to take order or ask permission. You have a determined, self-reliant, capable nature and resent any interference, although in your desire to help you are inclined to become involved in the lives and decisions of other people. You like to make your own decisions and to be the master of your domain. You feel a limitation in your own expression when it is necessary to reach another through tact and understanding. Although you are honest and fair, a directness in speech is a source of much consternation to you, and you often regret what you say. You also have a tendency to worry. It causes you to be too serious, and interferes with happiness and relaxation that comes with naturalness of expression.

• The first name of Henley (Now You See Me) leads you to assume considerable responsibility and to prefer to work independently, without direction or interference from others because you have very definite ideas of your own. Your mind is quick to comprehend and you can be depended upon to do any job well. Because you tend to be somewhat of a perfectionist, you might insist on doing too many things yourself instead of delegating jobs to others who might do less satisfactory work. This name does make you quite direct and straight-to-the-point. The name Henley creates the urge to be creative and original, but we draw to your attention that the name causes a superior, interfering quality that tends to resent the opinions of others. This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success, as well as cause health weaknesses or accidents to the head, worry and mental tension.

• Your first name of Myrtle (The Great Gatsby) has given you a quick, active mind, which has caused you to delve into many different ideas and theories. You have a desire for association with people and, since you have no difficulty in being spontaneous and expressive with others, you have considerable ability for discussion and debate. You enjoy unexpected opportunities for meeting people, or doing things on the spur of the moment. Where you have difficulty is in organizing and systematizing the handling of your responsibilities. Though you can work on any undertaking intently as long as it absorbs your interest, you cannot persevere when confronted by obstacles or by tedious monotony. Thus your success in your undertakings is limited. Although the name Myrtle creates an active mind and a restless urge to explore new ideas, we emphasize that it frustrates you through a scattered and emotional nature. This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success.

• Your name of Katie (Bachelorette and Wedding Daze) has created a practical, responsible, stable nature, and you desire to direct the efforts of others rather than to take order or ask permission. You have a determined, self-reliant, capable nature and resent any interference, although in your desire to help you are inclined to become involved in the lives and decisions of other people. You like to make your own decisions and to be the master of your domain. You feel a limitation in your own expression when it is necessary to reach another through tact and understanding. Although the name Katie creates the urge to be reliable and responsible, we emphasize that it causes a blunt expression that alienates others. This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success.

• The name of Beans (Rango) creates a restless, creative nature that takes you into many ventures, but does not allow you to see things through to a satisfactory completion. Yours is a versatile, musical, artistic, but independent nature and you must have the freedom to express your creative ideas and abilities to be happy. An urge for independence causes dissatisfaction and frustration in close relationships and you find the “ties that bind” restricting. The qualities of this name would find a more constructive outlet in work that involves high-pressure selling or promotional activities, possibly in community affairs, for it contains a positive, driving power. Although the name Beans creates the urge to be reliable and responsible, we emphasize that it causes a restless intensity that defies relaxation. This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success.

• Your name of Ginny (Burke & Hare) contains many fine qualities: musical and artistic ability, good business judgment, and a sense of responsibility for the welfare of others. This makes you warm-hearted and understanding in your response to the needs and interests of those around you. You are always ready to help those in less fortunate circumstances. Your insistence on becoming involved in the affairs of others can cause them to regard you as interfering, even though you are only trying to help. A weakness lies in the fact that you are deeply affected through your feeling for others and could suffer through worry and disturbed thoughts over matters that you can do nothing about. Although the name Ginny creates idealism and the urge to help others, we emphasize that it causes a superior, interfering expression whose favorite expression is “I know.” This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success.

• The name of Rebecca (Confessions Of A Shopaholic and London) creates a friendly, sociable, charming nature, but causes you to be too easily influenced by others. While you find it easy to meet and mix, and can appear agreeable and compromising in conversation, you can become unbending and forceful if pressed too far. Others learn that you cannot be told what to do and you seldom change your mind once it is made up. You prefer situations that allow a degree of independence, but are reluctant to take on a demanding work-load or responsibility. Although the name Rebecca creates the urge to understand and help others, we stress that it causes a blunt expression that alienates others.

• Your name of April (Definitely, Maybe) gives you the ability to be creative along practical lines of endeavour. Your ideas can be very original and inventive. You enjoy being with people in a social environment. Your personal appearance is important to you, for you desire to make a good impression on others. Your pleasant manner attracts people to you with their problems and you are capable of offering practical advice, though you may not follow such advice yourself. This name causes you to be somewhat too concerned with the personalities, problems, and activities of other people. While the name April creates the urge to be creative and original, we point out that it causes procrastination, lack of confidence, and the inability to realize your goals and ambitions.

• Your first name of Luvlee (The Lookout) has made you desire system and order and to progress step by step, yet you are taken into new experiences, turmoil, and change and rarely can you fully complete an undertaking to your satisfaction. You are extremely analytical and sometimes critical of both others and of yourself, and must guard against sarcastic speech and temper. Although the name Luvlee creates the urge to be both logical and technical, we emphasize that it causes a restless intensity that defies relaxation.

• Your name of Denise (Hot Rod) gives you the ability to be creative along practical lines of endeavour. Your ideas can be very original and inventive. You enjoy being with people in a social environment. Your personal appearance is important to you, for you desire to make a good impression on others. Your pleasant manner attracts people to you with their problems and you are capable of offering practical advice, though you may not follow such advice yourself. This name causes you to be somewhat too concerned with the personalities, problems, and activities of other people. While the name Denise creates the urge to be creative and original, we point out that it causes procrastination, lack of confidence, and the inability to realize your goals and ambitions.

• Your first name of Gloria (Wedding Crashers) gives you a poised, gracious, and reserved nature. You are capable and clever and would excel in executive positions. As you are a private person, it is a challenge for others to get to know and understand you. Your reticence has caused you to suffer aloneness and misunderstandings. You would like to be easy-going and spontaneous but it does not come easily. You can express yourself better through writing than verbally. The mysteries of life appeal to you in your search for an understanding of the greater picture of life. You love to read and can develop great powers of concentration. Although the name Gloria creates an interest in the deeper aspects of life, we emphasize that it causes a materialistic approach that frustrates higher humanitarian qualities.

• The name of Mary-Jane (Scooby Doo) gives you a responsible, reserved, and dignified nature, able to find a certain amount of success in anything you undertake. You have an appreciation for the finer and deeper aspects of life. Your scholarly, studious interests incline you to art, literature, philosophy, music, and drama. You wonder about the deeper aspects of life contained in religious theories and occult beliefs. Although the name Mary-Jane creates an interest in the deeper aspects of life, we emphasize that it causes a superior, interfering expression whose favorite expression is “I know.”

• The name of Shannon (Home & Away) creates a very quiet, practical nature and a clever and inventive mind. Being analytical and naturally studious, you are interested in a factual understanding of the mysteries of life. Your methodical nature requires that you like to finish what you start without interruptions and also to have everything in its place and properly organized. An ability to concentrate could take you into computer programming or accountancy or any work requiring concentration and attention to detail. You have, also, a flair for creative expression with your hands. You take life seriously and can be easily and deeply hurt and go into moods which can be quite extreme at times, causing much turmoil and unhappiness. Although the name Shannon creates an interest in the deeper aspects of life, we emphasize that it limits your versatility and scope, tuning you to technical details.