![BEST Island Names [Real and Mythical Island Names]](https://tagvault.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screen-Shot-2022-10-28-at-8.15.20-PM.png)
Island names range widely depending on whether they’re real-world or mythical in nature.
In this article, we cover the best island names whether by adjective (cool, funny, cute, unique), game (Animal Crossing), or by region (Japan, Hawaii, Spain).
Let’s dive in.
Island Names (Animal Crossing)
1) Aila’au
2) Akala
3) Alola
4) Aphria
5) Atollon
6) Bali
7) Barclay
8) Belle Isle
9) Bloubergstrand
10) Boa Vista
11) Bora Bora
12) Boracay
13) Bowen Island
14) Bramble Cay
15) Catalina Island
16) Christmas Island (Australia)
17) Cocos (Keeling) Islands
18) Corsair
19) Crete
20) Cuba
ISLAND NAMES you wish you knew before | Part 1 ► Animal Crossing New Horizons
21) Curacao
22) Cyprus
23) Dominica
24) Easter Island
25) Ebeye
26) Fiji
27) Grande Jatte
28) Great Barrier Reef
29) Guam
30) Hawaii (The Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Oahu)
31) Ibiza
32) Iceland
33) Isla Mujeres
34) Isle of Lewis
35) Jamaica
36) Japan (Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku, Honshu)
37) Java
38) Koh Samui
39) Kristiansand
40) La Gomera
41) Lanzarote
42) Las Islas Cies
43) Malta
44) Martha’s Vineyard
45) Mauritius
46) Menorca
47) Micronesia
48) Mo’orea
49) Molokai
50) Moorea (French Polynesia)
51) Mykonos
52) Nantucket
53) Nassau (The Bahamas)
54) Nevis
55) New Providence Island (The Bahamas)
56) Okinawa
57-60: Palawan, Phi Phi Islands, Phuket, Bali
61-62: Puerto Rico, St. Barts
63) St. Croix
64) St. John
65) St. Kitts
66) St. Lucia
67) St. Maarten/St. Martin
68) St. Thomas
69-70: Samoa, Santorini
71-72: Sardinia, Sicily
73) Seychelles
74-75: Tahiti, Mauritius
76) Tobago
77) Tortola
78-79: Turks & Caicos, Vieques
80) Virgin Gorda
81-82:Wilmington Island (Georgia), Maui (Hawaii)
250+ ACNH ISLAND NAME IDEAS // Animal Crossing New Horizons
Mythical Island Names
1) Aeaea
2) Atlantis
3) Avalon
4) Circe’s Island
5) Fiji (Yasawa Islands)
6) Ithaca
7) Nostria
8) Ogygia
9) Scheria
10) Serendip (Ceylon, Sri Lanka)
11) Shangri-La
12) Stigmata
13-14: Tir na nOg, Ys
15) Utopian Land
Abandoned Island Names
Hashima Island, Gunkanjima, Japan; Craco, Italy; Anaconda Copper Mine, Nevada; island of the Dolls, Xochimilco, Mexico
Beautiful Island Names
White Beach, Boracay, Philippines; Palawan, Philippines; Phi Phi Islands, Thailand; Santorini, Greece
Cute Island Names
Langkawi Island, Malaysia; Belle Isle, Michigan; Bowen Island, Canada
Deserted Island Names
Hashima Island, Gunkanjima, Japan; Craco, Italy; Anaconda Copper Mine, Nevada
Famous Island Names
Alcatraz Island, California; Easter Island, Chile; Liberty Island, New York
Historical Island Names
Alcatraz Island, California; Gunkanjima, Japan; Pompeii, Italy
Mysterious Island Names
Bermuda Triangle (various); Easter Island (Rapa Nui); Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis); Stonehenge, England
Romantic Island Names
Bali, Indonesia; Maui, Hawaii; Santorini, Greece; Mykonos, Greece
Sandy Island Names
Koh Samui, Thailand; Boracay, Philippines; Bora Bora, French Polynesia; Fiji Islands
Tropical Island Names
Bora Bora, French Polynesia; Maui, Hawaii; Koh Samui, Thailand; Jamaica
Dangerous island names
Hashima Island (Gunkanjima), Japan – An abandoned island that was once acoal mining facility. The island is now overrun with dilapidated buildings and has been nicknamed “Ghost Island”.
Anaconda Copper Mine, Nevada – A former copper mine that is now abandoned. The island is said to be haunted by the ghosts of miners who died in a cave-in.
Island of the Dolls (Xochimilco), Mexico – A creepy island located in a network of canals south of Mexico City. The island is littered with dolls, many of which are decapitated or missing limbs.
How Did The Islands Of Indonesia Get Their Names?
Hawaii Island Names
1) Oahu
2) Maui
3) Kauai
4) Lanai
5) Molokai
6) The Big Island (Hawaii Island)
7) Niihau
8) Kahoolawe
Cool Island Names
1) Fiji
2) Bora Bora
3) Maldives
4) Seychelles
5) Mauritius
6) Galapagos Islands
7) Easter Island
8) Sicily
9) Canary Islands
10) Hawaii (The Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Oahu)
11) Sumba Island
Cute Island Names
1) Belle Isle, Michigan
2) Bowen Island, Canada
3) Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
4) Nantucket, Massachusetts
5) Block Island, Rhode Island
6) Mackinac Island, Michigan
7) Isle of Skye, Scotland
8) Capri, Italy
9) Mull, Scotland
10) Orkney Islands, Scotland
11) Shetland Islands, Scotland
12) Faroe Islands
Funny Island Names
1) Dildo Island, Newfoundland, Canada
2) Butt Island, Newfoundland, Canada
3) Beaver Island, Michigan
4) Rat Islands, Alaska
5) Mosquito Island, British Virgin Islands
6) Monkey Island, Oklahoma
7) Bird Island, Minnesota
8) Penguin Island, Australia
9) Turkey Point Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
10) Rabbit Hash, Kentucky
11) Frogmore Estate, Windsor Great Park, Berkshire, England
12) Toad Hall Cottages, Devon, England
Caribbean Island Names
1) Antigua
2) Aruba
3) Bahamas
4) Barbados
5) Cuba
6) Dominica
7) Dominican Republic
8) Grenada
9) Haiti
10) Jamaica
11) Montserrat
12) Puerto Rico
13) St. Barts
14) St. Kitts and Nevis
15) St. Lucia
16) St. Martin/Sint Maarten
17) St. Vincent and the Grenadines
18-19: Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos
20-21: Virgin Gorda, Vieques
22-23: Wilmington Island (Georgia), Maui (Hawaii),
24: Yasawa Islands (Fiji)
25: Zanzibar (Tanzania)
Spanish Island Names
1) Cayo Coco
2) Cayo Largo
3) Cuba
4) Grand Canary Island
5) Grand Cayman
6) Ibiza
7) Majorca
8) Margarita Island
9) Puerto Rico
10) Virgin Gorda
Japanese Island Names
1) Hokkaido
2) Honshu
3) Shikoku
4) Kyushu
5) Okinawa
Island Girl Names
1) Alana
2) Bree
3) Callie
4) Cambria
5) Cora
6) Daisy
7). Eliza
8). Harper
9). India
10). Isla
11). Ivory
12). Jade
13). Jasmine
14). Kailani
15). Kapiolani
16). Keilani
17). Kiara
18). Liana
19). Lilo
20. Lotus
21. Maple
22) Nalani
23) Nevaeh
24) Nixie
25) Pepper
26) Piper
27) Quinn
28) Rowan
29. Rory
30. Scout
31. Stevie
32. Willow
33. Wren
34. Wynne
35. Zaya
Island Good Names
1) Blue Lagoon Island, Bahamas
2) Catalina Island, California
3) Culebra Island, Puerto Rico
4) Davao Gulf Islands, Philippines
5) Fiji Islands
6) Florida Keys, USA
7) Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
8) Maldives
9) Maui, Hawaii
10) Phi Phi Islands, Thailand
11) Santorini, Greece
12) Seychelles
13) St. Lucia
14) Tobago Cays, Grenadines
15) Turks & Caicos Islands
Creative Island Names
1) Bora Bora
2) Fiji
3) Hawaii
4) Maui
5) Moorea
6) Samoa
7) Tahiti
8) The Bahamas
9) The British Virgin Islands
10) The Cayman Islands
11) The Dominican Republic
12) The Florida Keys
13) The Greek Isles
14) The Hawaiian Islands
15) The Maldives
16) The Netherlands Antilles
17) The Phillippines
18.)The Puerto Rican Islands
19.)The Solomon Islands
20.)The US Virgin Islands
Unique Island Names
1) Sumba Island
2) Fiji
3) Bora Bora
4) Maldives
5) Seychelles
6) Mauritius
7) Galapagos Islands
8) Easter Island
9) Sicily
10) Canary Islands
11) Hawaii (The Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Oahu)
Tips for Coming Up with Island Names
When you’re tasked with naming an island, there are a few things to consider. Here are a few tips to help you come up with the perfect name for your new land:
1. Consider the island’s natural features
When thinking of names, take into account the island’s size, shape, topography and any notable landmarks.
For example, an island shaped like a crescent moon might be called “Luna Island,” while one with a large mountain in the middle could be named “Mt. Olympus Island.”
2. Think about the climate and wildlife
The climate and vegetation of an island can give you clues for its name.
A lush, tropical island might be called “Paradise Island,” while a barren, icy one could be called “Desolation Island.”
3. Consider its history and mythology
If the island has any interesting historical or mythical associations, that could be reflected in its name.
For example, an island that was once home to pirates could be called “Pirate Island,” and one with a dark past could be called “Demon Island.”
4. Keep it simple
sometimes the best names are the simplest ones. If you can’t think of anything else, try using the island’s location as its name.
For example, an island off the coast of Italy could be called “Italy Island,” and one in the Caribbean could be called “Caribbean Island.”
5. Get creative!
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your island naming. If you can think of a unique, clever or catchy name, it could help your island stand out from the rest.
So go ahead and brainstorm – with these tips in mind, you’re sure to come up with the perfect name for your new island home.
How Are Island Names Categorized?
Island names can be divided into categories by their origin.
The most common types of island names are: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Dutch, Scandinavian, Gaelic/Celtic, Greek, Russian, Asian, African, Native American and Pacific Islander.
Some popular island name etymologies include:
English – many islands were named by early English explorers and settlers. Common themes include saints (e.g., St. Helena), royalty (e.g., Prince Edward Island) or simply descriptive (e.g., Bermuda Triangle).
French – islands named by French explorers and settlers often reflect the country’s colonial history. For example, many islands in the Caribbean were named after saints, such as Saint Lucia or Saint Barthélemy.
Spanish – similar to the French, Spanish island names often reflect the nation’s colonial heritage. For instance, the Canary Islands were named after the canaries (birds) that were brought there from Africa.
Portuguese – many island names in Portugal’s former colonies pay tribute to the country’s patron saint, Catherine of Alexandria (e.g., Santa Catarina Island in Brazil).
Italian – some Italian islands were named for famous people or landmarks, such as the island of Capri (named after the nearby city of Naples) or Isola Bella (“beautiful island”).
German – many Germanic island names are derived from old Norse or Anglo-Saxon words. For example, the name “Rügen” comes from the old Norse word for “edge” or “border,” while “Sylt” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for “shore.”
Dutch – many Dutch island names come from the country’s colonial history, such as Curaçao (named after a Portuguese colony in Brazil) or Sint Maarten (named after the Dutch city of Maastricht).
Scandinavian – many Scandinavian island names are simple and descriptive, such as Öland (“island” in Swedish) or Åland (“river island” in Finnish).
Gaelic/Celtic – some Scottish islands have Gaelic or Celtic names, such as Skye (from the Gaelic word for “cloud”) or Islay (from the Gaelic word for “asphalt”).
Greek – many Greek islands were named after gods or heroes from Greek mythology, such as Crete (named after the goddess Demeter) or Naxos (named after the god Dionysus).
Russian – some Russian island names are derived from the country’s native languages, such as Sakhalin (from the Ainu word for “black”) or Novaya Zemlya (from the Nenets word for “land”).
Asian – some Asian island names come from Chinese or Japanese characters, such as Taiwan (meaning “terraced bay” in Chinese) or Okinawa (meaning “rope in the open sea” in Japanese).
African – many African islands were named by early European explorers and settlers, often using descriptive terms like “island of apes” (e.g., Gorée Island off the coast of Senegal) or “island of thieves” (e.g., Ile de Ré off the coast of Ghana).
Native American – some islands in North America were named by Native Americans, such as Manitoulin Island (named after the Anishinaabe word for “spirit island”) or Orcas Island (named after the Haida word for “killer whale”).
Pacific Islander – many Pacific islands were named by early European explorers and settlers, often using descriptive terms like “island of palms” (e.g., Samoa) or “island of pearls” (e.g., Tahiti).
Conclusion – Island Names
Island names can tell us a lot about the history and culture of the people who named them.
From saints and royalty to heroes and gods, these names reflect the stories and traditions of those who came before us.
So the next time you visit an island, take a moment to think about its name – you might just learn something new about the place you’re visiting.
