Ilah

♀ Girl

Pronounced EYE-lah /ˈaɪ.lə/High

Meaning: Variant of Isla, from the Scottish Gaelic name for the island of Islay, meaning island.Medium

In 30 seconds: Ilah is an uncommon and serene spelling variant of Isla or Elah, evoking island landscapes or the sheltering oak. Its soft sound and rare spelling give it a distinctive quality among similar names.

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Origin MediumScottish, Hebrew, Arabic

MeaningVariant of Isla, from the Scottish Gaelic name for the island of Islay, meaning island.

U.S. rank (2025)#3046 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births54 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,788

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ilah is primarily encountered as a phonetic spelling of Isla, the Scottish name derived from Islay, Scotland's southernmost island. The Gaelic name is thought to derive from an Old Norse word meaning island.

As a distinct spelling, Ilah gives the popular Isla sound a softer, slightly more exotic appearance. The Hebrew cognate Elah (oak or terebinth tree) adds a nature-name dimension. The name sits within the broader trend of I-L vowel names such as Isla, Iliana, and Iliana.

Did you know? The Valley of Elah (Ilah) in ancient Israel is the place where, according to the Bible, David defeated Goliath — one of the most famous battlegrounds in scripture.

Overall data confidence 72%

Behind the Name — Isla — Etymology of the base nameStrong's Hebrew Lexicon — Elah — Hebrew root meaning oak tree

Variations

IslaElahIlaIlah

Nicknames

IliIzzy

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If you like Ilah…

Isla— The most common form of this name, sharing identical sound

Ila— Shorter variant with same initial sound

Iliana— Longer elaboration starting with the same Il- sound

Aila— Scottish/Finnish girls name with near-identical sound

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ilah mean?

Ilah most likely means island as a spelling variant of Isla (from Scottish Gaelic Islay), and may also be related to the Hebrew Elah meaning oak or terebinth tree.

How do you pronounce Ilah?

Ilah is pronounced EYE-lah, two syllables with stress on the first: /ˈaɪ.lə/.

Is Ilah a boy or girl name?

Ilah is used as a girl's name, in keeping with the parent name Isla.

How popular is Ilah?

Ilah is a rare and uncommon spelling. The base name Isla is very popular in the UK, Australia, and increasingly the US.