Here’s one of my favorite views of the near-mountain named Blue Hill, taken from one of my favorite unnamed Blue Hill Bay inlets, where one of my favorite unnamed islands can be walked to at low tide. The sight inspired me to do a little research.
Maine reportedly has more than 4600 offshore islands, including ones that are merely granite ledges, and 3166 of those islands are catalogued. Naming an island in Maine requires approval of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which standardizes geographic names for federal use. The key considerations are:
>Islands (or any geographic phenomenon) may not be officially named after a living person or anyone who was alive during the five years prior to application for an official name. (No Trump Island allowed.)
>A compelling reason why an island needs an official name must be given (e.g., honoring a historical figure or event or avoiding confusion).
>Names that already have widespread public usage and acceptance are favored.
(Image taken in Blue Hill, Maine, on June 1, 2026.)