Leeward Islands

Meanings

1. The northern of the Lesser Antilles, consisting of the islands or nations of the Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Barbuda, Antigua, Montserrat and Guadeloupe.
2. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Etymology

Called leeward because the prevailing winds in the area blow from east to west. Thus, the Leeward Islands are downwind, or leeward of, the easternmost Windward Islands, the group of islands that first meet the trade winds coming from the east.