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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Thoughts on the name 'Aslan'

295 replies

sel2223 · 12/01/2020 16:36

My OH is Turkish and we've trying to agree on a name for a little boy (we have a girls name already).

We want a Turkish name with no special characters that is easy to pronounce in both Turkish and English. Asian means 'lion' in Turkish and is also the name of the lion from the Chronicles of Narnia, which I love.

What do you think? Is it too 'out there'?

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Tsubasa1 · 12/01/2020 17:40

How about Efe? Another poster suggested Efehan, and it came to my mind.

Charley50 · 12/01/2020 17:38

I quite like it. Doesn't Theo mean God as well? And that's a well-used name.

mummabubs · 12/01/2020 17:38

For what it's worth OP I really like Aslan. We chose a Scandinavian boys name that happens to feature in the Hobbit- we find that some people assume we named our son after the Tolkien character, most haven't heard of the name before and assume we made it up... But in any eventuality we love the name and after a while your child just becomes the name you pick for them and you stop finding it weird if that makes any sense!

If you both love Aslan I say go for it!

Mamabear88 · 12/01/2020 17:37

I'm not keen sorry, I just think of the lion that dies in Narnia. I have a friend who is married to a Turkish man and their DS is Efehan. Don't know what you think of that?

Original poster
sel2223 · 12/01/2020 17:37

@smeerf is your partner Turkish? I'm trying to avoid special characters like 'c' and OH has ruled out Volkan and Deniz. See my.last comment re Kemal.

OP posts:
LemonScentedStickyBat · 12/01/2020 17:36

Oh and people here will get used to Aslan if you use it, it’s a great name.

Nonnymum · 12/01/2020 17:36

I wouldn't because all I think of when I hear it is its the name of the lion from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe '. It's a very popular book, TV series, film series so will be bound to ocme up again and again.

NameChange30 · 12/01/2020 17:35

Atlas is a very cool name but isn't it Greek?

LemonScentedStickyBat · 12/01/2020 17:35

From a person with a multi cultural family - there is no need to get hung up on a name being pronounced and spelt exactly the same in both cultures, no special characters etc. Both sides will cope just fine and so will your son.

Original poster
sel2223 · 12/01/2020 17:34

@mumsiedarlingrevolta I like kemal too (although kem makes me think of love island). I wouldn't rule it out though.
The only problem is we know quite a few kemals over here so would it seem like we were naming our child after them? They're not family or really close friends - one is OH's boss

OP posts:
Bigearringsbigsmile · 12/01/2020 17:34

i've worked with a taylan and a roshan -nice kids!

Zebracat · 12/01/2020 17:34

I love Aslan. I also like Sezer.

Bigearringsbigsmile · 12/01/2020 17:33

Taylan?

Roshan? Really like this!

smeerf · 12/01/2020 17:33

What about Volkan? Or Cem (pronounced Jem), or Deniz (means sea). Kemal is great and very meaningful (as in Mustafa Kemal Atatürk).

I like Aslan, it's very out there, it was on my longlist for DS1 but Turkish in-laws weren't keen.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 12/01/2020 17:32

I really like Kemal-

Kem is a great nickname and it suits both cultures.

Original poster
sel2223 · 12/01/2020 17:32

@tsubasa1 thank you. I actually really like Hakan but the surname is 5 letters ending 'kan' so it wouldn't sound right unfortunately

OP posts:
Tsubasa1 · 12/01/2020 17:31

I live in Turkey and ive also heard the name Atlas which is quite modern.

Tsubasa1 · 12/01/2020 17:29

I think Aslan is a great name, some will find it weird although I don't see it as such a big deal.
There is a Hakan in my daughters class, to me its a cool Turkish boys name and its also Scandinavian. I also like the names Deniz, Serhan and Erol.

Original poster
sel2223 · 12/01/2020 17:29

The child will have a Turkish surname but will likely be brought up in the UK so I'm keen for them to have a Turkish name. I just don't want something really traditional or old fashioned.
It's really important that it's pronounced the same in both countries and isn't too long or complicated x

OP posts:
Pangur2 · 12/01/2020 17:28

Aslan is the name of a band in Ireland who are quite big and pretty good, but known for being on heroin, so I'd say no because of that. The actual sound of the name is nice enough though.

NameChange30 · 12/01/2020 17:27

PS You call him "OH", is he your husband or partner? If not married please give your child your surname.

Original poster
sel2223 · 12/01/2020 17:27

@Dio23489432489234 haha! That made me laugh. I just realised this child is probably going to be born in the starsign Leo so maybe that's why we're being subconsciously drawn to lions 🤣

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 12/01/2020 17:26

Will your child have an English or Turkish surname, or both?

I would be inclined to "balance out" a Turkish surname with a more English first name (that still works in Turkish) and vice versa. You can also use an English first name and Turkish middle name or vice versa.

Personally I'm not a huge fan of Aslan but it is recognisable and easy to spell and pronounce so wouldn't be a hard no from me.

Original poster
sel2223 · 12/01/2020 17:25

@liveinthenow another of my suggestions that OH vetoed unfortunately 🙈

OP posts:
Dio23489432489234 · 12/01/2020 17:25

I like Aslan!

But then... I almost called my son Leo and strongly considered Nala for my daughter, so I must just really like lions Grin

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