View source for Hebrides

==Etymology==
The earliest surviving written references to the islands were made circa 77&nbsp;AD by [[Pliny the Elder]] in his ''Natural History'': He states that there are 30 ''{{lang|la|Hebudes}}'', and makes a separate reference to ''{{lang|la|Dumna}}'', which [[William J. Watson|Watson]] (1926) concluded refers unequivocally to the Outer Hebrides. About 80 years after Pliny the Elder, in 140–150&nbsp;AD, [[Ptolemy]] (drawing on accounts of the naval expeditions of {{lang|la|[[Gnaeus Julius Agricola|Agricola]]}}) writes that there are five ''{{lang|la|Ebudes}}'' (possibly meaning the Inner Hebrides) and ''{{lang|la|Dumna}}''.<ref name="Breeze">Breeze, David J. "The ancient geography of Scotland" in Smith and Banks (2002) pp. 11–13.</ref><ref name="Watson">Watson (1994) pp. 40–41</ref><ref name="W38">Watson (1994) p. 38</ref> Later texts in classical [[Latin language|Latin]], by writers such as {{lang|la|[[Gaius Julius Solinus|Solinus]]}}, use the forms ''{{lang|la|Hebudes}}'' and ''{{lang|la|Hæbudes}}''.<ref>Louis Deroy & Marianne Mulon (1992) ''{{lang|fr|Dictionnaire de noms de lieux}}'', Paris: Le Robert, article "Hébrides".</ref>

The name ''{{lang|la|Ebudes}}'' (used by Ptolemy) may be pre-Celtic.<ref name="W38"/> Ptolemy calls Islay "{{lang|grc-Latn|Epidion}}",<ref name=W37>Watson (1994) p. 37.</ref> and the use of the letter "p" suggests a [[Celtic Britons|Brythonic]] or Pictish tribal name, {{lang|cel|[[Epidii]]}},<ref>Watson (1994) p. 45.</ref> because the root is not Gaelic.<ref name="G2487">Gammeltoft, Peder "Scandinavian Naming-Systems in the Hebrides – A Way of Understanding how the Scandinavians were in Contact with Gaels and Picts?" in Ballin Smith ''et al'' (2007) p. 487.</ref> [[Alex Woolf|Woolf]] (2012) has suggested that ''{{lang|la|Ebudes}}'' may be "an Irish attempt to reproduce the word ''{{lang|cel|Epidii}}'' phonetically, rather than by translating it", and that the tribe's name may come from the root ''{{lang|xtg|epos}}'', meaning "horse".<ref name=woolf>[[Alex Woolf|Woolf, Alex]] (2012) [https://www.academia.edu/1502702/Ancient_Kindred_Dal_Riata_and_the_Cruthin ''Ancient Kindred? Dál Riata and the Cruthin''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802043628/http://www.academia.edu/1502702/Ancient_Kindred_Dal_Riata_and_the_Cruthin |date=2 August 2016 }}. Academia.edu. Retrieved 21 January 2015.</ref> Watson (1926) also notes a possible relationship between ''{{lang|la|Ebudes}}'' and the ancient Irish [[Ulaid]] tribal name ''{{lang|sga|Ibdaig}}'', and also the personal name of a king {{lang|sga|Iubdán}} (recorded in the ''[[Silva Gadelica]]'').<ref name="W38"/>

[[File:Loch Aineort - geograph.org.uk - 518727.jpg|thumb|[[South Uist]] is the second-largest island of the [[Outer Hebrides]].]]
The names of other individual islands reflect their complex linguistic history. The majority are Norse or Gaelic, but the roots of several other names for Hebrides islands may have a pre-Celtic origin.<ref name=W38 /> [[Adomnán]], a 7th-century abbot of Iona, records Colonsay as ''Colosus'' and Tiree as ''Ethica'', and both of these may be pre-Celtic names.<ref name=W85>Watson (1994) p. 85-86.</ref> The [[etymology of Skye]] is complex and may also include a pre-Celtic root.<ref name=G2487/> Lewis is ''{{lang|non|Ljoðhús}}'' in Old Norse. Various suggestions have been made as to possible meanings of the name in Norse (for example, "song house"),<ref>{{lang|ga|Mac an Tàilleir}} (2003) p. 80.</ref> but the name is not of Gaelic origin, and the Norse provenance is questionable.<ref name=G2487/>

The earliest comprehensive written list of Hebridean island names was compiled by [[Donald Monro (Dean)|Donald Monro]] in 1549. This list also provides the earliest written reference to the names of some of the islands.

The derivations of all the inhabited islands of the Hebrides and some of the larger uninhabited ones are listed below.

=== Outer Hebrides ===
[[Lewis and Harris]] is the largest island in Scotland and the third largest of the [[British Isles]], after Great Britain and Ireland.<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 262.</ref> It incorporates Lewis in the north and Harris in the south, both of which are frequently referred to as individual islands, although they are joined by a land border. The island does not have a single common name in either English or Gaelic and is referred to as "Lewis and Harris", "Lewis with Harris", "Harris with Lewis" etc. For this reason it is treated as two separate islands below.<ref>Thompson (1968) p. 13.</ref> The derivation of Lewis may be pre-Celtic (see above) and the origin of Harris is no less problematic. In the [[Ravenna Cosmography]], ''Erimon'' may refer to Harris<ref name="Roman Map of Britain"/> (or possibly the Outer Hebrides as a whole). This word may derive from the {{langx|grc|ἐρῆμος}} ({{lang|grc-Latn|erimos}} "desert".<ref>Megaw, J.V. S. and SIMPSON, D.A. (1960) "[http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS.../94_062_078.pdf A short cist burial on North Uist and some notes on the prehistory of the Outer Isles in the second millennium BC"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719033248/http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS.../94_062_078.pdf |date=19 July 2011 }} (pdf) p. 72 Proc Soc Antiq Scot. archaeologydataservice.ac.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2011.</ref> The origin of [[Uist]] ({{langx|non|Ívist}}) is similarly unclear.<ref name=G2487/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Island
! Derivation
! Language
! Meaning
! Munro (1549)
! style="width:10%;" | Modern Gaelic name
! Alternative Derivations
|-
| [[Baleshare]]
| ''{{lang|mga|Am Baile Sear}}''
| Gaelic
| east town<ref name=HS236>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 236.</ref>
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Baile Sear}}''
|
|-
| [[Barra]]
| ''{{lang|non|Barrey}}''{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=68}}
| Gaelic + Norse
| Finbar's island<ref name=MaT17>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 17.</ref>
| Barray
| ''{{lang|gd|Barraigh}}''
| [[Old Irish|Old Gaelic]] ''barr'', a summit.{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=68}}
|-
| [[Benbecula]]
| ''{{lang|mga|Peighinn nam Fadhla}}''
| Gaelic
| [[pennyland]] of the fords<ref name="MaT19">{{lang|gd|Mac an Tàilleir}} (2003) p. 19.</ref>
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Beinn nam Fadhla}}''
| "little mountain of the ford" or "herdsman's mountain"<ref name=HS236/>
|-
| [[Berneray, North Uist|Berneray]]
| ''{{lang|non|Bjarnarey}}''{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=68}}
| Norse
| Bjorn's island<ref name=MaT19/>
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Beàrnaraigh}}''
| bear island<ref name=HS236/>
|-
| [[Eriskay]]
| ''{{lang|mga|Uruisg}}'' + ''{{lang|non|ey}}''
| Gaelic + Norse
| goblin or water nymph island<ref name=HS236/>
| Eriskeray
| ''{{lang|gd|Èirisgeigh}}''
| Erik's island<ref name=HS236/><ref name="autogenerated3">{{lang|gd|Mac an Tàilleir}} (2003) p. 46.</ref>
|-
| [[Flodaigh]]
|
| Norse
| float island<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 50.</ref>
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Flodaigh}}''
|
|
|-
| [[Great Bernera]]
| ''{{lang|non|Bjarnarey}}''{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=68}}
| Norse
| Bjorn's island<ref name=HS287>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 218.</ref>
| Berneray-Moir
| ''{{lang|gd|Beàrnaraigh Mòr}}''
| bear island<ref name=HS287/>
|-
| [[Grimsay]]{{refn|There are two inhabited islands called "Grimsay" or ''{{lang|gd|Griomasaigh}}'' that are joined to Benbecula by a road causeway, one to the north at {{gbmapping|NF855572}} and one to the south east at {{gbmapping|NF831473}}.|group=Note}}
| {{lang|non|Grímsey}}
| Norse
| Grim's island<ref name=HS236/>
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Griomasaigh}}''
|
|-
| [[Grimsay, South East Benbecula|Grimsay]]{{refn|See above note.|group=Note}}
| {{lang|non|Grímsey}}
| Norse
| Grim's island<ref name=HS236/>
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Griomasaigh}}''
|
|-
| [[Harris, Outer Hebrides|Harris]]
| {{lang|grc-Latn|Erimon}}?<ref name="Roman Map of Britain">[http://www.romanmap.com/htm/nomina/insula/Eirimon.htm "The Roman Map of Britain Maiona (Erimon) 7 Lougis Erimon Isles of Harris and Lewis, Outer Hebrides "] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127115218/http://romanmap.com/htm/nomina/insula/Eirimon.htm |date=27 November 2013 }} romanmap.com. Retrieved 1 February 2011.</ref>
| Ancient Greek?
| desert?
| Harrey
| ''{{lang|gd|na Hearadh}}''
| Ptolemy's {{lang|grc-Latn|Adru}}. In [[Old Norse language|Old Norse]] (and in [[icelandic language|modern Icelandic]]), a ''{{lang|non|[[Herred|Hérað]]}}'' is a type of administrative district.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{lang|gd|Mac an Tàilleir}} (2003).</ref> Alternatives are the Norse ''{{lang|non|haerri}}'', meaning "hills" and Gaelic ''{{lang|mga|na h-airdibh}}'' meaning "the heights".<ref name=HS287/>
|-
| [[Isle of Lewis|Lewis]]
| {{lang|grc-Latn|Limnu}}
| Pre-Celtic?
| marshy
| Lewis
| ''{{lang|gd|Leòdhas}}''
| Ptolemy's {{lang|grc-Latn|Limnu}} is literally "marshy". The Norse ''{{lang|non|Ljoðhús}}'' may mean "song house" – see above.<ref name=G2487/><ref name=autogenerated2 />
|-
| [[North Uist]]
|
| English + Pre-Celtic?<ref name=G2487/>
|
| Ywst
| ''{{lang|gd|Uibhist a Tuath}}''
| "Uist" may possibly be "corn island"<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 116.</ref> or "west"<ref name=HS287 />
|-
| [[Scalpay, Outer Hebrides|Scalpay]]
| ''{{lang|non|Skalprey}}''<ref name=HS287/>
| Norse
| scallop island<ref name=HS287/>
| Scalpay of Harray
| ''{{lang|gd|Sgalpaigh na Hearadh}}''
|-
| [[Seana Bhaile]]
|
| Gaelic
| old township
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Seana Bhaile}}''
|
|-
| [[South Uist]]
|
| English + Pre-Celtic?
|
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Uibhist a Deas}}''
| See North Uist
|-
| [[Vatersay]]
|{{lang|non|Vatrsey}}?{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=80}}
| Norse
| water island<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 117.</ref>
| Wattersay
| ''{{lang|gd|Bhatarsaigh}}''
| fathers' island, priest island, glove island, wavy island<ref name=HS287 />
|}

=== Inner Hebrides ===
There are various examples of earlier names for Inner Hebridean islands that were Gaelic, but these names have since been completely replaced. For example, Adomnán records ''Sainea'', ''Elena'', ''Ommon'' and ''Oideacha'' in the Inner Hebrides. These names presumably passed out of usage in the Norse era, and the locations of the islands they refer to are not clear.<ref>Watson (1994) p. 93.</ref> As an example of the complexity: [[South Rona|Rona]] may originally have had a Celtic name, then later a similar-sounding Norse name, and then still later a name that was essentially Gaelic again, but with a Norse "øy" or "ey" ending.<ref>Gammeltoft (2010) pp. 482, 486.</ref> (See [[South Rona|Rona]], below.)
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Island
! Derivation
! Language
! Meaning
! Munro (1549)
! style="width:10%;" | Modern Gaelic name
! Alternative Derivations
|-
| [[Canna, Scotland|Canna]]
| ''{{lang|mga|Cana}}''
| Gaelic
| porpoise island<ref name=HS143>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 143.</ref>
| Kannay
| ''{{lang|ga|Eilean Chanaigh}}''
| possibly Old Gaelic ''{{lang|sga|cana}}'', "wolf-whelp", or Norse ''{{lang|non|kneøy}}'', "knee island"<ref name=HS143/>
|-
| [[Coll]]
| ''Colosus''
| Pre-Celtic
|
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Colla}}''
| possibly Gaelic ''{{lang|gd|coll}}'' – a [[hazel]]<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 118.</ref>
|-
| [[Colonsay]]
| {{lang|non|Kolbein's}} + {{lang|non|ey}}
| Norse<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 31.</ref>
| Kolbein's island
| Colnansay
| ''{{lang|ga|Colbhasa}}''
| possibly Norse for "Columba's island"<ref name=autogenerated4>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 52.</ref>
|-
| [[Danna, Scotland|Danna]]
|{{lang|non|Daney}}{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=69}}
| Norse
| [[Danes|Dane]] island{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=69}}
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Danna}}''
|Unknown<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 38.</ref>
|-
| [[Easdale]]
|
|
|
| Eisdcalfe
| ''{{lang|mga|Eilean Èisdeal}}''
| ''{{lang|gd|Eas}}'' is "waterfall" in Gaelic and ''{{lang|non|dale}}'' is the Norse for "valley".<ref>[http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/Misc/Etymology.html "Etymology of British place-names"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909233045/http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/Misc/Etymology.html |date=9 September 2013}} Pbenyon. Retrieved 13 February 2011.</ref> However the combination seems inappropriate for this small island. Also known as ''{{lang|mga|Ellenabeich}}'' – "island of the birches"<ref name=HS76>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 76.</ref>
|-
| [[Eigg]]
| ''{{lang|mga|Eag}}''
| Gaelic
| a notch<ref>Watson (1994) p. 85.</ref>
| Egga
| ''{{lang|gd|Eige}}''
| Also called ''{{lang|mga|Eilean Nimban More}}'' – "island of the powerful women" until the 16th century.<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 134.</ref>
|-
| {{lang|gd|[[Eilean Bàn, Lochalsh|Eilean Bàn]]}}
|
| Gaelic
| white isle
| Naban
| ''{{lang|gd|Eilean Bàn}}''
|
|-
| {{lang|gd|[[Eilean dà Mhèinn]]}}
|
| Gaelic
|
|
|
|
|-
| [[Eilean Donan]]
|
| Gaelic
| island of {{lang|mga|[[Donnán of Eigg|Donnán]]}}
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Eilean Donnain}}''
|
|-
| [[Eilean Shona]]
|
| Gaelic + Norse
| sea island<ref name=MaT105/>
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Eilean Seòna}}''
| Adomnán records the pre-Norse Gaelic name of ''{{lang|sga|Airthrago}}'' – the foreshore isle".<ref>Watson (1994) p. 77.</ref>
|-
| [[Eilean Tioram]]
|
| Gaelic
| dry island
|
|
|
|-
| [[Eriska]]
| {{lang|non|Erik's}} + {{lang|non|ey}}
| Norse
| Erik's island<ref name=autogenerated3 />
|
| {{sort|Aoraisge|''{{lang|gd|Aoraisge}}''}}
|
|-
| [[Erraid]]
| ''{{lang|sga|Arthràigh}}''?
| Gaelic
| foreshore island<ref name=MaT105/>
| Erray
| ''{{lang|gd|Eilean Earraid}}''
|
|-
| [[Gigha]]
| ''{{lang|non|Guðey}}''<ref>''{{lang|non|[[Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar]]}}'', {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120714180840/http://sagnanet.is/saganet/?MIval=/NextPage&Manuscript=100128&imgpage=598 § 328, line 8]}} Retrieved 2 February 2011.</ref>{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=71}}
| Norse
| "good island" or "God island"<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 72.</ref>
| Gigay
| ''{{lang|gd|Giogha}}''
| Various including the Norse ''{{lang|non|Gjáey}}'' – "island of the [[geo (landscape)|geo]]" or "cleft", or "Gydha's isle".<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 32.</ref>
|-
| [[Gometra]]
| {{lang|non|Goðrmaðrey}}<ref name=gillies>Gillies (1906) p. 129. "Gometra, from N., is ''{{lang|non|gottr}}'' + ''{{lang|non|madr}}'' + ''{{lang|non|ey}}''."</ref>
| Norse
| "The good-man's island", or "God-man's island"<ref name=gillies/>
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Gòmastra}}''
| "Godmund's island".<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) pp. 58–59.</ref>{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=71}}
|-
| [[Iona]]
| ''{{lang|mga|Hí}}''
| Gaelic
| Possibly "[[Taxus baccata|yew]]-place"
| Colmkill
| {{sort|I Chaluim Chille|''{{lang|gd|Ì Chaluim Chille}}''}}
| Numerous. Adomnán uses ''{{lang|la|Ioua insula}}'' which became "Iona" through misreading.<ref>Watson (1926) p. 87.</ref>
|-
| [[Islay]]
|
| Pre-Celtic
|
| Ila
| {{sort|Ile|''{{lang|gd|Ìle}}''}}
| Various – see above
|-
| [[Isle of Ewe]]
| ''{{lang|sga|Eo}}''<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 185.</ref>
| English + Gaelic
| isle of yew
| Ellan Ew
| 
| possibly Gaelic ''{{lang|sga|eubh}}'', "echo"
|-
| [[Jura, Scotland|Jura]]
| ''{{lang|non|Djúrey}}''{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=69}}
| Norse
| deer island<ref name=HS47>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 47.</ref>
| Duray
| ''{{lang|gd|Diùra}}''
| Norse: ''{{lang|non|Jurøy}}'' – "udder island"<ref name=HS47/>
|-
| [[Kerrera]]
| ''{{lang|non|Kjarbarey}}''{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=74}}
| Norse
| Kjarbar's island<ref name=HS84>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 84.</ref>
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Cearrara}}''
| Norse: ''{{lang|non|ciarrøy}}'' – "brushwood island"<ref name=HS84/> or "copse island"<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 69.</ref>
|-
| [[Lismore, Scotland|Lismore]]
| ''{{lang|gd|Lios Mòr}}''
| Gaelic
| big garden/enclosure<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 109.</ref>
| Lismoir
| ''{{lang|gd|Lios Mòr}}''
|
|-
| [[Luing]]
|
| Gaelic
| ship island<ref name=HS70>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 70.</ref>
| Lunge
| ''{{lang|gd|An t-Eilean Luinn}}''
| Norse: ''{{lang|non|lyng}}'' – heather island<ref name=HS70/> or pre-Celtic<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 83.</ref>
|-
| [[Lunga, Firth of Lorn|Lunga]]
| ''{{lang|non|Langrey}}''
| Norse
| longship isle<ref name=HS65>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 65.</ref>
| Lungay
| ''{{lang|gd|Lunga}}''
| Gaelic ''{{lang|non|long}}'' is also "ship"<ref name=HS65/>
|-
| [[Muck, Scotland|Muck]]
| ''{{lang|gd|Eilean nam Muc}}''
| Gaelic
| isle of pigs<ref name=HS132>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 132.</ref>
| Swynes Ile
| ''{{lang|gd|Eilean nam Muc}}''
| ''{{lang|gd|Eilean nam Muc-mhara}}''- "whale island". John of Fordun recorded it as ''Helantmok'' – "isle of swine".<ref name=HS132/>
|-
| [[Isle of Mull|Mull]]
| ''Malaios''
| Pre-Celtic<ref name=G2487/>
|
| Mull
| ''{{lang|gd|Muile}}''
| Recorded by Ptolemy as {{lang|grc-Latn|Malaios}}<ref name=W37 /> possibly meaning "lofty isle".<ref name=W38/> In Norse times it became ''{{lang|non|Mýl}}''.<ref name=G2487/>
|-
| [[Oronsay, Inner Hebrides|Oronsay]]
|{{lang|non|Ørfirisey}}{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=83}}
| Norse
| ebb island<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 93.</ref>
| Ornansay
| ''{{lang|gd|Orasaigh}}''
| Norse: "Oran's island"<ref name=autogenerated4 />
|-
| [[Raasay]]
| ''{{lang|non|Raasey}}''
| Norse
| roe deer island<ref name=HS161>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 161.</ref>
| Raarsay
| ''{{lang|gd|Ratharsair}}''
| ''{{lang|non|Rossøy}}'' – "horse island"<ref name=HS161/>
|-
| [[South Rona|Rona]]
| ''{{lang|non|Hrauney}}'' or ''{{lang|non|Ròney}}''
| Norse or Gaelic/Norse
| "rough island" or "seal island"
| Ronay
| ''{{lang|gd|Rònaigh}}''
|
|-
| [[Rùm|Rum]]
|
| Pre-Celtic<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 102.</ref>
|
| Ronin
| ''{{lang|gd|Rùm}}''
| Various including Norse ''{{lang|non|rõm-øy}}'' for "wide island" or Gaelic ''{{lang|gd|ì-dhruim}}'' – "isle of the ridge"<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 138.</ref>
|-
| [[Sanday, Inner Hebrides|Sanday]]
| ''{{lang|non|Sandey}}''{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=77}}
| Norse
| sandy island<ref name=HS143/>
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Sandaigh}}''
|
|-
| [[Scalpay, Inner Hebrides|Scalpay]]
| ''{{lang|non|Skalprey}}''{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=78}}
| Norse
| scallop island<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 153.</ref>
| Scalpay
| ''{{lang|gd|Sgalpaigh}}''
| Norse: "ship island"<ref name=M103>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 103.</ref>
|-
| [[Seil]]
| ''Sal''?
| Probably pre-Celtic<ref name=M104>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 104.</ref>
| "stream"<ref name=HS76 />
| Seill
| ''{{lang|gd|Saoil}}''
| Gaelic: ''{{lang|mga|sealg}}'' – "hunting island"<ref name=HS76/>
|-
| [[Shuna, Slate Islands|Shuna]]
| Unknown
| Norse
| Possibly "sea island"<ref name=MaT105>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 105.</ref>
| Seunay
| ''{{lang|gd|Siuna}}''
| Gaelic ''{{lang|mga|sidhean}}'' – "fairy hill"<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 63.</ref>
|-
| [[Skye]]
| ''Scitis''<ref>[http://www.kmatthews.org.uk/Ravenna_Cosmography/group34.html "Group 34: islands in the Irish Sea and the Western Isles 1"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508202101/http://www.kmatthews.org.uk/Ravenna_Cosmography/group34.html |date=8 May 2021 }} kmatthews.org.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2008.</ref>
| Pre-Celtic?
| Possibly "winged isle"<ref>Munro, D. (1818) ''Description of the Western Isles of Scotland called Hybrides, by Mr. Donald Munro, High Dean of the Isles, who travelled through most of them in the year 1549.'' Miscellanea Scotica, 2. Quoted in Murray (1966) p. 146.</ref>
| Skye
| ''{{lang|gd|An t-Eilean Sgitheanach}}''
| Numerous – see above
|-
| [[Soay, Skye|Soay]]
| ''{{lang|non|So-ey}}''
| Norse
| sheep island
| Soa Urettil
| ''{{lang|gd|Sòdhaigh}}''
|
|-
| [[Tanera Mòr|Tanera Mor]]
| ''{{lang|non|Hafrarey}}''{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=72}}
| From {{langx|non|hafr}}, he-goat
| Hawrarymoir(?)
| ''{{lang|gd|Tannara Mòr}}''
| Brythonic: ''{{lang|cel|Thanaros}}'', the thunder god,<ref name=HS195/> island of the haven<ref name=HS195>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 195.</ref>
|-
| [[Tiree]]
| ''Tìr'' + ''Eth'', ''Ethica''
| Gaelic + unknown
| Unknown<ref name=W85/>
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Tiriodh}}''
| Norse: ''{{lang|non|Tirvist}}'' of unknown meaning and numerous Gaelic versions, some with a possible meaning of "land of corn"<ref name=W85/>
|-
| [[Ulva]]
| {{lang|non|Ulfey}}{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=80}}
| Norse
| wolf island<ref name=HS102>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 102.</ref>{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=80}}
|
| ''{{lang|gd|Ulbha}}''
| Ulfr's island<ref name=HS102/>
|}

=== Uninhabited islands ===
[[File:Dubh artach.jpg|350px|right|thumb|''{{lang|gd|Dhu Heartach}} Lighthouse, During Construction'' by [[Sam Bough]] (1822–1878)]]
The names of uninhabited islands follow the same general patterns as the inhabited islands. (See the list, below, of the ten largest islands in the Hebrides and their outliers.)

The [[St Kilda, Scotland#Origin of names|etymology of the name "St Kilda"]], a small archipelago west of the Outer Hebrides, and the name of its main island, "[[Hirta]]," is very complex. No [[saint]] is known by the name of Kilda, so various other theories have been proposed for the word's origin, which dates from the late 16th century.<ref>Buchanan (1983) Pages 2–6.</ref> Haswell-Smith (2004) notes that the full name "St Kilda" first appears on a Dutch map dated 1666, and that it may derive from the Norse phrase ''{{lang|non|sunt kelda}}'' ("sweet wellwater") or from a mistaken Dutch assumption that the spring ''{{lang|gd|Tobar Childa}}'' was dedicated to a saint. (''{{lang|gd|Tobar Childa}}'' is a [[list of tautological place names|tautological placename]], consisting of the [[Scottish Gaelic language|Gaelic]] and [[Old Norse|Norse]] words for ''well'', i.e., "well well").<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) pp. 314–25.</ref> Similarly unclear is the origin of the Gaelic for "Hirta", ''{{lang|gd|Hiort}}'', ''{{lang|gd|Hirt}}'', or ''{{lang|gd|Irt}}''<ref>Newton, Michael Steven. The Naughty Little Book of Gaelic: All the Scottish Gaelic You Need to Curse, Swear, Drink, Smoke and Fool around. Sydney, Nova Scotia: Cape Breton UP, 2014.</ref> a name for the island that long pre-dates the name "St Kilda". Watson (1926) suggests that it may derive from the Old Irish word ''{{lang|sga|hirt}}'' ("death"), possibly a reference to the often lethally dangerous surrounding sea.<ref>Watson (1994) p. 97.</ref> Maclean (1977) notes that an [[Icelanders' sagas|Icelandic saga]] about an early 13th-century voyage to Ireland refers to "the islands of ''{{lang|non|Hirtir}}''", which means "stags" in Norse, and suggests that the outline of the island of Hirta resembles the shape of a [[stag]], speculating that therefore the name "Hirta" may be a reference to the island's shape.<ref>Maclean (1977) page 33.</ref>

The etymology of the names of small islands may be no less complex and elusive. In relation to {{lang|gd|[[Dubh Artach]]}}, [[Robert Louis Stevenson]] believed that "black and dismal" was one translation of the name, noting that "as usual, in Gaelic, it is not the only one."<ref>Stevenson (1872) p. 10.</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Island
! Derivation
! Language
! Meaning
! Munro (1549)
! Alternatives
|-
| [[Ceann Ear]]
| ''{{lang|gd|Ceann Ear}}''
| Gaelic
| east headland
|
|-
| [[Hirta]]
| ''Hirt''
| Possibly Old Irish
| death
| Hirta
| Numerous – see above
|-
| [[Mingulay]]
| ''{{lang|non|Miklaey}}''{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=76}}
| Norse
| big island<ref>Buxton (1995) p. 33.</ref>{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=76}}
| Megaly
| "Main hill island".<ref name=M87>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 87</ref> Murray (1973) states that the name "appropriately means Bird Island".<ref>Murray (1973) p. 41.</ref>
|-
| [[Pabbay, Harris|Pabbay]]
| {{lang|non|Papaey}}{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=76}}
| Norse
| priest island<ref name=M94>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 94.</ref>
| Pabay
|  
|-
| [[Ronay]]
| 
| Norse
| rough island<ref name=M101>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 101.</ref>
| 
|-
| [[Sandray]]
| ''{{lang|non|Sandray}}''<ref>Buxton (1995) p. 158.</ref>
| Norse
| sand island<ref name=M103 />
| Sanderay
| beach island{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=77}}
|-
| [[Scarba]]
|
| Norse
| cormorant island<ref name=M104 />
| Skarbay
|{{lang|non|Skarpey}}, sharp or infertile island{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=78}}
|-
| [[Scarp, Scotland|Scarp]]
| ''{{lang|non|Skarpoe}}''<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p 285.</ref>
| Norse
| "barren"<ref name=M104/> or "stony"
| Scarpe
|
|-
| [[Taransay]]
| 
| Norse
| Taran's island<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 111.</ref>
| Tarandsay
|{{lang|non|Haraldsey}}, Harold's island{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=72}}
|-
| [[Wiay, Uist|Wiay]]
| {{lang|non|Búey}}{{sfn|Gammeltoft|2006|p=69}}
| Norse
| From {{lang|non|bú}}, a settlement
|
| Possibly "house island"<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 118.</ref>
|}