Tropical Island Name Generator

Real tropical island names come from four main sources, and mixing them is the fastest way to make a fictional archipelago feel lived-in. Polynesian and Micronesian names (Bora Bora, Aitutaki, Funafuti, Kwajalein) are built from a small set of open syllables and often contain motu (islet), nuku (land), or vai and wai (water). Malay and Indonesian names use Pulau for island and Nusa or Gili for smaller ones, while Thai islands take Koh, Filipino ones vary widely, and Maldivian atolls end in -dhoo, -fushi, or -finolhu. Spanish and Portuguese colonial names (Isla, Cayo, Ilha) dominate the Caribbean and Latin America, and French names (Île, Anse) mark the Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar. English names tend to be either practical (Salt Cay, Rum Cay, Half Moon Caye) or aspirational (Paradise Cove, Palm Reef).

A good fictional island name usually does one of three things: it borrows the phonetics of a real region so readers place it geographically, it describes something concrete like a plant, animal, or shape (Frigate Cay, Sugarloaf Key, Turtle Lagoon), or it hints at history (Shipwreck Isle, Isla de Muerta). Franchise islands like Isla Nublar and Skull Island work because they follow those same rules.

Use the list for a fantasy world map, a survival or pirate game, a resort or swimwear brand, or the setting of a beach-read novel; the mix of real and original names is designed to give you the right sound for any of them.