2022 is here, and that means that a lot of new and returning players will be visiting their Animal Crossing: New Horizons islands to see what’s new after the New Year's Countdown. For many new Nintendo Switch and Animal Crossing owners, one of the first tasks that they’ll encounter is naming their island. This might seem like a trivial task, but the finality of the decision means that players will want to pick the best island name they can.
Choosing a new name for the Animal Crossing island does mean committing to a full restart - there’s still no way to change an island’s name once it’s been chosen the first time. Players who are just starting out or those that want to start from scratch only get to make the decision once. Thus, it’s important to choose a name that’s personal and fits the creative style of the island.
This assortment of names runs the gamut between real-life locations and Animal Crossing film and pop culture design references to give players inspiration for their own island. Both have their advantages, but the reason they’re the best names is that they tie the game world to the real world. Even the names based on popular culture can help familiarize new players with the creativity they can achieve and make the task of beautifying the island more approachable. For experienced players who already have an established island, these might still inspire something new.
The Best Animal Crossing Island Names Are From Pop Culture & Real Life
The first class of the best Animal Crossing village names are the ones based on locations and islands in pop culture, from TV to film to video games. The “Rook” and “Yara” islands might suffice for those into Far Cry, while “Yoshi’s Island” and “Isle Delfino” fit for those more familiar with Nintendo’s Mario catalog. “Total Drama” could inspire minigames and gossip with even the worst New Horizons villagers, and “Isla Nublar” from Jurassic Park is a classic for those who want to add thrills and create intrigue with their fossil collection.
From across the globe, there are also many real islands that represent prosperity and relaxation. Catalina is a great name for those that still want a film reference to Step Brothers but also want a real-life location, Honolulu and Maui are great vacation getaways, and across the Atlantic Ocean, there’s Corsica, Capri, Madagascar, and Java to draw inspiration from. While it might be hard to match their real-world counterparts completely in theme, Animal Crossing islands named after these places immediately make a theme come to mind, which could make it easier to decorate.
All these names have the aspect of familiarity. It can be tough introducing an island name that doesn’t mean anything or has a more obscure or personal touch for Animal Crossing, even when it has sentimental value. Getting friends to laugh or be excited when hearing an island’s name can create a communal and social experience for everyone who visits, making it easier to enjoy the game's content-sharing aspects.
Finally, a personal name might be best for those who can think of one. This might be tough at first, but finding a hometown, name of an elementary school, or personal vacation spot makes for a great name for an island aiming to be a relaxing hangout spot. For those who want a more single-player and/or family-oriented experience, modifying one of the real-world names to fit a unique landmark from a player’s past can create a better connection with Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the villagers, and the island.