ðə nˈeɪm stˈɛmz bˈæk tə ðə vˈaɪkɪŋ ˈeɪdʒ, ænd ɪz dᵻɹˈaɪvd fɹʌmðə nˈeɪm "ɡˈʌd ˈɔɪ", wˌɪtʃ tɹænslˈeɪts tuː "ˈaɪlənd ʌv ɡˈɑːd ˈɛs" ɪn ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ.
The name stems back to the Viking Age, and is derived from the name "Gud øy", which translates to "Island of God(s)" in English.