Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Is Aisling too boring?

36 replies

Snowbell99 · 11/03/2022 11:44

Aisling has always been one of my favourite Irish names. I love the meaning and sound.

But I am wondering if it is perceived as too boring or too generic, especially in Ireland but also England, Scotland etc.

I know that it was very common in Ireland in the 80s and 90s (top 10) and that it is one of the better known Irish name outside of Ireland (which is also a positive thing in many ways).

But I read online that Irish people say "You are such an Aisling" for a generic person, is it true? And then there is a book "Oh my god, what a complete Aisling" which also sees Aisling as a generic name.

On the other hand it is still being used in Ireland so it can't be that bad? What would you say? I also wonder why Aisling was chosen for this as other Irish names like Niamh and Siobhán or Aoife were way more common.

I love the movie "Secret of Kells" which features an Aisling and the meaning. I love both ASH-ling and ASH-leen but I think I prefer ASH-leen. Do you think ASH-leen will work or will people say ASH-ling all of the time?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
coffeeiwish · 16/03/2022 09:56

We also have an Aisling. We say Ash-ling (living in England, me English), ILs in NI all day Ash-lin and drop the g.

It's never bothered us or her. I'm more annoyed about the Ay-ling or Ashley mispronunciations but these are quickly corrected

JenniferBarkley · 16/03/2022 08:52

I was watching this thread and forgot about it - @Snowbell99 I have an Aisling and we're based in NI. We say Ash-ling but a few people outside of our family do say Ashleen. I don't correct in the way that I might for, say, Caoimhe as Queeva Vs Keeva as I think they're very similar. A lot of Northern Irish people pronounce ING as EEN in plenty of English words anyway - think being etc.

irishfarmer · 14/03/2022 14:35

I think people will say it whatever way you/ DD say it. My friends older sister is Aisling, but they always called her Ais-leen. My niece is def Ais-ling.

I really thought a guy I know was called Willum for a long time until he added me on FB and he is just a standard William. All his family call him Will-um, he then introduces himself as that (since that is what he learnt from his parents) so his friends also go with the pronunciation they use!

If you call your DD Ash-leen, that is what people will say and that is what she will introduce herself as.

Original poster
Snowbell99 · 14/03/2022 12:11

Ahh, sorry!

OP posts:
TatianaBis · 14/03/2022 12:09

The difference is that ASH-leen isn't a mispronunciation, it is used in certain dialects.

True, but I was referring to the spelling not the pronunciation.

2Gen · 14/03/2022 11:58

@Anotherdayanotherdollar

I'm Irish. Have never heard anyone being described as an "Aisling" however....
No, nor me! I like it OP , I think it's a really pretty name, though I would leave off pronouncing the "g" at the end as I've only ever heard it pronounced as "ASH-leen".
Original poster
Snowbell99 · 14/03/2022 11:43

@TatianaBis

Unfortunately 'Caitlyn' is less an Irish name than a bastardisation via diasporic mispronunciation of the entirely different name Cáitlín.

Exactly and similarly you get Ashleen, Ashlyn etc.

The difference is that ASH-leen isn't a mispronunciation, it is used in certain dialects.
OP posts:
TatianaBis · 14/03/2022 11:35

Unfortunately 'Caitlyn' is less an Irish name than a bastardisation via diasporic mispronunciation of the entirely different name Cáitlín.

Exactly and similarly you get Ashleen, Ashlyn etc.

LadyCordeliaFitzgerald · 14/03/2022 10:56

The emphasis and the enunciation of the ending varies around Ireland, as a lot of names do. I don’t think you have a lot of control over that really. To my ear there isn’t an obvious difference that makes me feel that they’re distinctly different names in the way that MARie and marEE (Marie) are.

My English niece gets confused with Ashleigh/Ashley a fair bit.

PleaseBeSeated · 14/03/2022 10:48

@TatianaBis

I really like it but I guess it's one of the most popular Irish names currently used by non-Irish - like Caitlyn, Cillian and Liam - if that's an issue for you.
Unfortunately 'Caitlyn' is less an Irish name than a bastardisation via diasporic mispronunciation of the entirely different name Cáitlín.
TatianaBis · 14/03/2022 10:19

I really like it but I guess it's one of the most popular Irish names currently used by non-Irish - like Caitlyn, Cillian and Liam - if that's an issue for you.

LizzieAnt · 13/03/2022 15:54

Sorry, I don't know why that is.
When I click on it a page comes up with a speaker icon that you click on...

Original poster
Snowbell99 · 13/03/2022 15:51

I can't see a way to listen to it. I clicked on it but nothing comes up.

OP posts:
LizzieAnt · 13/03/2022 15:45

And that's the word, rather than the name, but I suppose they'd be the same.

LizzieAnt · 13/03/2022 15:44

This is what makes me wonder, but there may be more than one way of saying it, of course. I'm really bad at Ulster Irish!
www.teanglann.ie/ga/eid/Aisling

Original poster
Snowbell99 · 13/03/2022 14:58

Yes, that would be nice!

There was also an Aisling on "Derry Girls" which was filmed in Northern Ireland. They didn't say her name often and when you say it quickly in the middle of a sentence it is hard to hear what it really is because they are quite similar. But to me it sounded like ASH-leen too.

OP posts:
LizzieAnt · 13/03/2022 14:41

ASH-leen is more popular in Northern Ireland.

That explains it, I'm very far south Smile. I'd maybe check how an Ulster Irish speaker says it too though, if you want to be sure it's the correct Irish language pronunciation there. (If that matters to you, of course - I just think it might judging from some of your other posts.)

pippapoo62 · 13/03/2022 13:50

My daughter in law as named our granddaughter Aislyn spelt this way

coffeeiwish · 13/03/2022 13:38

Definitely not boring, I love it!

Original poster
Snowbell99 · 13/03/2022 13:33

But to be fair, I think the pronunciations sound very similar anyway.

ASH-ling can also easily become something close to ASH-lin when you say it quickly just like "riding" can become "ridin".

ASH-leen sticks out a bit more but while they are not exactly the same they all sound somewhat similar.

OP posts:
Original poster
Snowbell99 · 13/03/2022 13:30

ASH-leen is more popular in Northern Ireland. At least the Aisling I know from there says it like that.

OP posts:
LizzieAnt · 13/03/2022 13:18

I like the name Aisling, but I think it will be said mostly as Ash-ling, or maybe Ash-linn. I've never heard it said as Ash-leen before.

Kanaloa · 12/03/2022 02:00

I can’t speak for Ireland but in Scotland and England I wouldn’t say it was boring. I’ve never looked after a baby or school child Aisling. I think it’s a nice name and not too popular - however obviously in Ireland that is probably different!

irishfarmer · 12/03/2022 00:25

I like it. Its my niece's name, also know about 3 others. I don't think it's boring.

With regards the books, I have heard of them but I've never heard anyone use 'she's such an Aisling' to describe anyone. Not like the Karen meme which finally seems to be going away, all Karen's I know are lovely

Suasthuasanuas · 12/03/2022 00:20

Not at all. It's a gorgeous name. Personally I'd go with the standard Aisling spelling. I say that as a teacher in Ireland who has seen versions of popular names which almost guarantee that the majority of people will spell your child's name incorrectly, even with the best of intentions.

Swipe left for the next trending thread