Why Is the Isle of Skye Called Skye?

Skye is not called Skye because of the sky, however pleasing that is on a tea towel. The English word is a later spelling of older names. You will see An t-Eilean Sgitheanach in Gaelic. Norse is in the mix because the Norse were in the mix — the island is thick with their place-names once you look at the map rather than the gift shop.

Scholars argue, as scholars should. Winged isle, cloud isle, a personal name: pick a guidebook and you will get a favourite. What is safe to say is this: the name is older than the tourist board, and it is not a poem about weather, even though the weather is the other thing Skye is famous for.

If you came here for the etymology and stayed for the Cuillin, start with the island page and ignore anyone who tells you they have settled the philology in a car park. Burn the Skye candle when you are back on the mainland and the rain has followed you home.