10 Unusually Named Islands Around the World With Fascinating Histories and Stories

Some island names are beautiful. Others are baffling. From Disappointment Island to the oddly named Nowhere, the world is full of remote places that sound more like punchlines than paradise. These aren’t your typical tropical getaways they’re islands with names so unusual, they spark curiosity long before you learn where they are.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up 10 of the strangest, funniest, and most unusual island names across the globe. Each one comes with its own backstory some hilarious, some historical, and all unforgettable.

#1 – Disappointment Island

Location: Subantarctic Auckland Islands, New Zealand

The name says it all and for early explorers, it wasn’t an exaggeration. Disappointment Island sits isolated in the frigid waters south of New Zealand, part of the windswept Auckland Islands group. It’s uninhabited, rugged, and constantly battered by roaring subantarctic winds.

So why the gloomy name? In 1868, the crew of the ship Dundonald shipwrecked here. With no safe harbor, no food supply, and little hope of rescue, surviving on the island was bleak and brutal. Even before that, early sailors expecting refuge or resources were met only with rough terrain and endless seabirds — over 65,000 pairs of white-capped albatrosses nest here annually.

Despite its harshness, Disappointment Island has become a point of fascination for adventurers and biologists. But one thing’s for sure: it’s not a name you forget — and not a place you stumble upon by accident.

#2 – Bikini Atoll

Location: Marshall Islands, Pacific Ocean

Bikini Atoll is best known for its connection to nuclear testing carried out by the United States between 1946 and 1958. During this time, 23 atomic bombs were detonated here, forcing the evacuation of the local population and causing lasting environmental damage.

The name “Bikini” later became famous worldwide when it was used for the two-piece swimsuit introduced shortly after the tests. Despite its bright association, the atoll itself remains largely uninhabited because of lingering radiation.

Today, the area attracts divers interested in exploring sunken warships and coral reefs, but the history of the island serves as a stark reminder of its complicated past.

#3 - Nowhere Island

Location: River Thames, United Kingdom (temporary island)

Nowhere Island was an art project created in 2012 using rocks from the Arctic, assembled into an island that floated along the River Thames and the British coast. People could visit and even become “citizens” of this temporary place.

Its name reflects its brief existence and the idea of a place without borders or history, inviting questions about what makes a land truly a nation.

#4 – Dead Man’s Chest

Location: British Virgin Islands

Dead Man’s Chest is a small, rugged island with a name that sounds like it’s straight out of pirate lore — and that’s no coincidence. It’s famously mentioned in the classic sea shanty “Fifteen Men on the Dead Man’s Chest,” which inspired much pirate storytelling.

The island itself has steep cliffs and no fresh water, making it a tough place to survive. Its mysterious name adds to the allure, drawing visitors curious about it's dark and adventurous reputation.

#5 – Christmas Island

Location: Indian Ocean, Australia

Christmas Island got its name because it was discovered by Europeans on Christmas Day in 1643. But beyond the festive name, it’s famous for something much more unusual: the annual migration of millions of red crabs.

Every year, these crabs travel from the forest to the ocean to breed, covering roads, beaches, and even climbing fences. This spectacular natural event transforms the island and draws visitors eager to witness one of the world’s most unique wildlife phenomena.

#6 – Devil’s Island

Location: French Guiana, South America

Devil’s Island is infamous for its brutal history as part of a French penal colony where political prisoners and hardened criminals were sent in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its remote location and dangerous currents made escape nearly impossible.

The island’s harsh reputation lives on, giving it a sinister name that reflects the suffering and isolation experienced by those imprisoned there. Today, it stands as a haunting reminder of a dark chapter in history.

#7 – Skeleton Coast Island

Location: Namibia, Southwestern Africa

The Skeleton Coast gets its name from the bleached whale and seal bones scattered along its shores, remnants of a once-thriving whaling industry. The coastline is notoriously foggy and harsh, littered with shipwrecks that have claimed countless vessels over the centuries.

This stark and haunting landscape, with its desert meeting the Atlantic Ocean, earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous coasts in the world. Despite its grim name, the area is also home to unique wildlife adapted to the harsh environment.

#8 – Ugly Island

Location: Lake of the Woods, Canada

Ugly Island’s name might sound harsh, but the reality is far more peaceful. Located in Canada’s Lake of the Woods, the island is known for its rocky terrain and sparse trees, which likely inspired its blunt name.

Despite this, it’s a quiet and scenic spot, popular with anglers and nature lovers looking for solitude away from crowds. Sometimes, names don’t tell the whole story.

#9 – Inexpressible Island

Location: Antarctica

Inexpressible Island got its unusual name from a British Antarctic expedition in the early 1900s. After enduring a brutal winter stranded on the island, the explorers struggled to find words to describe their hardships, so they simply called it “Inexpressible.”

The island is a stark, icy place, marked by harsh weather and isolation, perfectly reflecting the challenge faced by those early adventurers.

#10 – Kure Atoll

Location: Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, USA

Kure Atoll is the northernmost coral atoll in the world, sitting far from the main Hawaiian Islands. Its name might sound unusual, but it’s a vital sanctuary for seabirds, sea turtles, and marine life.

This remote atoll is surrounded by clear blue waters and coral reefs, yet its isolation makes it a hidden gem for conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts alike.