Fun Facts About the Name Skye
- More than 27 thousand babies named Skye: U.S. records list 27,156 babies given the name Skye from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 2,903 boys received the name Skye - about 1 boy for every 8 girls.
What Does the Name Skye Mean?
Skye is an English given name taken from the Isle of Skye, the largest island of the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. It is a place name rather than a word with a settled meaning of its own. The island's Scottish Gaelic name, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach, is of uncertain origin. One explanation that is often repeated connects it to Old Norse ský, "cloud," which would give the sense "cloud island" or "misty isle." Norse speakers held the Hebrides for centuries and left many place names there, so a Norse source is plausible. Another explanation treats the name as Gaelic and links it to a word for "winged" or "pointed," thought to describe the island's outline. Because the early forms are not fully understood, the island's name, and therefore the personal name, is usually described as being of uncertain meaning. Skye does not come from the English word sky, though that English word was itself borrowed from Old Norse ský, the same term proposed as one source for the island's name.
Skye Name History & Origins
The name reached English through the Gaelic name of the island. Medieval Norse sources call the island Skíð, and the relationship between that form and the Gaelic Sgitheanach is debated: the Gaelic may be an adaptation of the Norse name, or it may be older and separate. The Hebrides belonged to the Norse world until the Treaty of Perth in 1266 transferred them to the Kingdom of Scotland, after which Gaelic and then English forms of the island's name became standard. Skye is also an established Scottish surname taken from the island, and the given name shares that place origin.
As a given name, Skye is used for both boys and girls, though it is more often given to girls. It is sometimes spelled Sky, which also appears as a word name. The name has been used for characters in modern fiction, including in the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; such uses follow the existing place-derived name rather than creating it.
How Popular is the Name Skye?
Skye recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2014. Its best rank was #367 in 2014.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #532 | 569 | 0.0354% |
| 2024 | #480 | 642 | 0.0398% |
| 2023 | #447 | 687 | 0.0429% |
| 2022 | #416 | 759 | 0.0463% |
| 2021 | #428 | 736 | 0.0449% |
| 2020 | #467 | 662 | 0.0410% |
| 2019 | #420 | 752 | 0.0448% |
| 2018 | #414 | 748 | 0.0440% |
| 2017 | #424 | 750 | 0.0435% |
| 2016 | #417 | 796 | 0.0449% |
| 2015 | #384 | 856 | 0.0480% |
| 2014 | #367 | 887 | 0.0497% |
| 2013 | #425 | 718 | 0.0409% |
| 2012 | #446 | 703 | 0.0399% |
| 2011 | #476 | 624 | 0.0355% |
| 2010 | #492 | 615 | 0.0346% |
| 2009 | #491 | 627 | 0.0341% |
| 2008 | #501 | 623 | 0.0330% |
| 2007 | #471 | 681 | 0.0354% |
| 2006 | #431 | 740 | 0.0389% |
| 2005 | #422 | 734 | 0.0397% |
| 2004 | #400 | 760 | 0.0414% |
| 2003 | #415 | 727 | 0.0398% |
| 2002 | #446 | 648 | 0.0361% |
| 2001 | #461 | 602 | 0.0334% |
| 2000 | #480 | 566 | 0.0312% |
| 1999 | #510 | 507 | 0.0286% |
| 1998 | #493 | 516 | 0.0292% |
| 1997 | #454 | 557 | 0.0320% |
| 1996 | #580 | 396 | 0.0226% |
| 1995 | #628 | 349 | 0.0198% |
| 1994 | #684 | 308 | 0.0172% |
| 1993 | #693 | 313 | 0.0173% |
| 1992 | #725 | 295 | 0.0160% |
| 1991 | #702 | 303 | 0.0162% |
| 1990 | #689 | 308 | 0.0162% |
| 1989 | #793 | 241 | 0.0131% |
| 1988 | #788 | 240 | 0.0135% |
| 1987 | #749 | 240 | 0.0138% |
| 1986 | #1,208 | 116 | 0.0068% |
| 1985 | #1,331 | 100 | 0.0058% |
| 1984 | #1,360 | 88 | 0.0052% |
| 1983 | #1,199 | 108 | 0.0065% |
| 1982 | #1,219 | 110 | 0.0065% |
| 1981 | #1,338 | 94 | 0.0056% |
| 1980 | #1,266 | 103 | 0.0062% |
| 1979 | #1,183 | 112 | 0.0070% |
| 1978 | #1,485 | 77 | 0.0050% |
| 1977 | #1,312 | 89 | 0.0058% |
| 1976 | #1,351 | 80 | 0.0055% |
| 1975 | #1,476 | 70 | 0.0048% |
| 1974 | #1,425 | 72 | 0.0049% |
| 1973 | #2,009 | 41 | 0.0028% |
| 1972 | #1,885 | 45 | 0.0030% |
| 1971 | #2,239 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 1970 | #4,226 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1969 | #5,395 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #5,388 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #7,462 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #7,380 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #5,925 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #4,854 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1962 | #5,235 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1961 | #7,400 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1958 | #3,901 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #3,897 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1956 | #2,049 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1952 | #5,487 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,357 | 59 | 0.0035% |
| 2024 | #2,278 | 63 | 0.0037% |
| 2023 | #2,121 | 69 | 0.0040% |
| 2022 | #2,235 | 65 | 0.0037% |
| 2021 | #2,151 | 67 | 0.0038% |
| 2020 | #2,580 | 50 | 0.0029% |
| 2019 | #2,356 | 58 | 0.0032% |
| 2018 | #2,700 | 46 | 0.0025% |
| 2017 | #2,263 | 59 | 0.0032% |
| 2016 | #2,024 | 71 | 0.0037% |
| 2015 | #2,269 | 59 | 0.0031% |
| 2014 | #2,271 | 59 | 0.0031% |
| 2013 | #2,328 | 55 | 0.0029% |
| 2012 | #2,286 | 57 | 0.0030% |
| 2011 | #2,313 | 56 | 0.0029% |
| 2010 | #1,765 | 85 | 0.0044% |
| 2009 | #1,938 | 74 | 0.0037% |
| 2008 | #2,156 | 63 | 0.0031% |
| 2007 | #1,993 | 71 | 0.0034% |
| 2006 | #2,098 | 63 | 0.0031% |
| 2005 | #1,736 | 77 | 0.0039% |
| 2004 | #2,447 | 46 | 0.0023% |
| 2003 | #1,813 | 66 | 0.0033% |
| 2002 | #2,147 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 2001 | #1,951 | 56 | 0.0029% |
| 2000 | #1,447 | 86 | 0.0044% |
| 1999 | #1,591 | 69 | 0.0036% |
| 1998 | #1,501 | 74 | 0.0039% |
| 1997 | #1,363 | 82 | 0.0043% |
| 1996 | #1,300 | 85 | 0.0045% |
| 1995 | #1,349 | 77 | 0.0040% |
| 1994 | #1,603 | 58 | 0.0030% |
| 1993 | #1,718 | 51 | 0.0026% |
| 1992 | #1,656 | 53 | 0.0027% |
| 1991 | #1,863 | 43 | 0.0021% |
| 1990 | #1,634 | 51 | 0.0025% |
| 1989 | #1,790 | 43 | 0.0021% |
| 1988 | #1,640 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 1987 | #1,583 | 45 | 0.0024% |
| 1986 | #1,582 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 1985 | #2,287 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1984 | #2,028 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1983 | #1,561 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 1982 | #1,439 | 45 | 0.0025% |
| 1981 | #1,329 | 50 | 0.0028% |
| 1980 | #1,589 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 1979 | #1,338 | 49 | 0.0028% |
| 1978 | #2,062 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 1977 | #1,941 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 1976 | #1,926 | 26 | 0.0017% |
| 1975 | #1,877 | 26 | 0.0017% |
| 1974 | #2,117 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1973 | #1,729 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 1972 | #2,315 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1971 | #5,553 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #5,340 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #3,517 | 7 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Skye Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are inventive, intuitive and extremely methodical. Since your will is so strong, you are hard to convince. You also dislike advice. You love beauty and philosophy, and you desire achievement. You have a strong need for freedom - physical, mental and spiritual.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Skye's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Skye's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.