<P> The literal translation of their previous name resulted in confusion, resulting in both ISIS and ISIL, two acronyms based on different literal translations of the name into English . Apart from these, an Arabic - derived acronym, Daesh or Da'ish gained traction well beyond Arabic - speaking parts of the world . Finally, the group's current name caused controversy due to its English translation as Islamic State (IS) and as a result, both the previous acronyms are still widely used, or a qualifier is often added to the IS name, such as "self - styled Islamic State". </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs expansion . You can help by adding to it . (December 2015) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs expansion . You can help by adding to it . (December 2015) </Td> </Tr> <P> Originating in Iraq, the group underwent various previous name changes, and since 2006 had been known as Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), a name which had failed to gain any traction, as the group had failed to gain or hold any significant territory as ISI, and thus widespread confusion over what to call them was largely absent . Confusion began when the group gained further territory and changed its name to ad - Dawlah al - Islāmiyah fī' l - ʿIrāq wa - sh - Shām in April 2013 as it expanded into Syria . It then changed to ad - Dawlah al - Islāmiyah in June 2014 as part of a desire to re-establish a caliphate . The rendering of the Arabic name in English varies, due to imprecise translation . </P>

Initially the islamic state of iraq and the levant