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Original poster

Is this name usable in England?

89 replies

caitlinrose · 27/10/2022 18:55

I stumbled across Aisling recently, I heard it in a movie and thought it was so beautiful.

It was pronounced ash-ling in the movie but I found out that ash-leen is another possible pr. and I think I like that a bit better.

Thoughts on Aisling, pr. ash-leen? What about ash-ling?

Is it fine to use without Irish ancestry? I know some people with Irish names who don't have ancestry so think it would be okay even though she might get some questions. Sinéad and Siobhán and Maeve seem to have been common in England, Scotland, Wales as well.

Thoughts? I'm thinking maybe as a middle names as I love the meaning and sound. As a first name I like it too but worry she'll get Ashley/Ashleigh a lot.

If you are Irish does it feel out of style to you? Just wondering because the statistics tell me it was Top Ten in Ireland in the past but not anymore.

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Jessbow · 29/10/2022 22:39

Would spelling it Ashlyn get a less Irish Vibe?

Luredbyapomegranate · 29/10/2022 18:45

RambamThankyouMam · 29/10/2022 12:32

It's a bit of a joke name in Ireland now - an "Aisling" is a certain type of woman. Look it up!

That book was a few years ago now though, no one would know it in the UK, and that ‘type’ wouldn’t really resonate culturally here.

Luredbyapomegranate · 29/10/2022 18:36

It’s getting quite popular, very pretty - go for it

I know an (Irish but lives in England) who is Aislinn which seems to get pronounced Ash-lin which I slightly prefer.

bouquetofpeonies · 29/10/2022 18:30

I went to Catholic school so there were about 5 Aisling in each year, pronounced 'Ash-ling' (not all Irish, however). It's a lovely name, I think it's one of the more well-known Irish names, at least in my area

Heyahun · 29/10/2022 12:47

Also it’s the Irish for dream 🥰

Heyahun · 29/10/2022 12:47

Most aislings i know are in their 30s 40s ! I always liked the name and I wanted an Irish name and it was the one we kept coming back to

people do think it’s Ashley sometimes bit a quick correction and it doesn’t happen again. Doesn’t bother me though

we have had the gp think her name was pronounced like Aiz - ling and we’ve had someone think her names Aileen.

Mrsjayy · 29/10/2022 12:46

I know of 2 scottish Aisling's pronounced Ashling I probably a celtic thing, it's a nice name I don't see why you can't use it.

Heyahun · 29/10/2022 12:40

I have an aisling she’s now 20 months old (we are Irish living in uk!)

i love her name - we pronounce it ash - ling

RambamThankyouMam · 29/10/2022 12:32

It's a bit of a joke name in Ireland now - an "Aisling" is a certain type of woman. Look it up!

Cheeseandpineappleonastick · 28/10/2022 12:07

I like it but I wouldn't decide on ash leen as the pronunciation as most people will assume ash ling.

rainbowstardrops · 28/10/2022 10:34

I think it's nice.
I wouldn't worry about not having Irish heritage. My DS has a name that is fairly popular in the UK but I much preferred the Irish spelling and he's never had any issues with it. We don't have any Irish background as far as I'm aware!

Katapolts · 28/10/2022 10:29

I quite like Aisling (Ashling) and think it's similar to Sinead, Siobhan in terms or being used and recognised in England (and maybe a bit 80s).

If you want Ashleen then I would spell it like that, or possibly Aislin though that's an in ending not een.

NKFell · 28/10/2022 10:16

Aisling is fine, I'm in my 30s and my friend since school has this name. She doesn't run into much trouble nowadays.

frazzled101 · 28/10/2022 09:58

I live in Northern Ireland and know an Aisling and an Aislinn.

I love the name and would have used it only my cousin used it first!

JenniferBarkley · 28/10/2022 09:57

I have an Aisling, she's in primary school. We say Ash-ling, but we live in NI where many people say Ash-leen - as said above, these same people pronounce -ing as -een in lots of English words too, it's just their accent. We don't correct it.

Snugglemonkey · 28/10/2022 09:47

DuchessOfSausage · 28/10/2022 07:46

Freya isn't irish, and isn't it Conor not Connor?

It is Conor, yes.

Snugglemonkey · 28/10/2022 09:45

I am Irish and in the North it is almost always pronounced Ashleen. I would not use a name from another country but that is only because I don't live in Ireland, so would like DC's names to reflect their cultural heritage. If you like a name, why not use it? It is not like the majority of English children have old English names, there are plenty of Sophias, Mias, Amelias, Isabellas, Avas etc.

DuchessOfSausage · 28/10/2022 07:46

Freya isn't irish, and isn't it Conor not Connor?

Rainbowandbirdhouse · 28/10/2022 07:16

Freya isn't an Irish name?
It's Ash-ling for Aisling where I am in Ireland too.

Bemoredog · 28/10/2022 07:14

Ashlin is an English name meaning meadow of Ash trees so you could use that.

Aisling is pronounced Ashling.

sashh · 28/10/2022 07:14

FurAndFeathers · 27/10/2022 19:06

It’s pronounced Ashleen and is an Irish name.
sure use it but think about whether your DD will appreciate speaking it out/explaining that no she doesn’t have Irish ancestry her whole life.

Its actually a situation where I think anglicising the spelling to Ashleen would be preferable to saddling your child with a lifelong explanation or mispronouncing a lovely Irish name

Some Irish names are fairly common in the UK. Sean/Shaun is really common and yes I know the second one isn't the Irish spelling

Aiden, Orla, Freya, Connor, Liam - all fairly common.

RuthW · 28/10/2022 07:04

I think most people will know how to say it but it will be Ashling not Ashleen.

Garman · 28/10/2022 06:49

Derry is a very strong accent, words can sound totally different.

I'm Irish in West of Ireland, I've only ever heard it pronounced Aisling. I think it's a lovely name.

SnooozyTree · 28/10/2022 01:26

caitlinrose · 28/10/2022 00:00

Thanks to all of the people who explained the pronunciation and for all your helpful comments so far!

The internet says it was said ash-leen on the show Derry Girls, is it true? I haven't watched it. But I guess they could be mispronouncing it. I'm trying to find a videoclip at the moment.

They are saying Ash-ling, but with an accent if you know what I mean.

Like how folk from that show pronounce 'Derry' so it sounds like 'Dair-eee". The rest of us should pronounce 'Derry' however it generally sounds in our accent - you wouldn't try to mimic the Northern accent in general.

Now there are some Aislings from the northern parts of Ireland that may prefer you to reflect the Ash-leen pronunciation. But the name remains Ash-ling.

FootballisLife · 28/10/2022 00:57

I know a girl called Aisling, she is Irish and says it like Ash-lyn

Haven't said that, I also know a couple of girls who are called Ashlyn with that spelling. I think I prefer it, as a non Irish person.

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