Thoughts on the name 'Aslan'

[sel2223]

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'?

[AllTheWhoresOfMalta]

FFS- This!

[Lordfrontpaw]

So I looked at one of those online name finders... one really stood out - Tarzan.

Now I’m sure someone will come along to say it’s a real name and not like naming a child Cinderella at all...

[nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut]

My friends son is called Aslan. He hasn't had any bullying issues or anything.

[greenemerald]

Adem (Adam)? Easy to transition between both cultures
Karim?
Cemil (pronounced Jameel)?
I personally love the traditional names. Like Mustafa!

[embolass]

sel22233 I was joking re Alan !
Son no 1 suggests Alhan (a Utuber apparently ). Instant kudos at playgroup!

[sel2223]

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut thank you

@AllTheWhoresOfMalta that hasn't been mentioned yet, I had to Google it!

[sel2223]

I appreciate it's a long thread but a lot of alternative names have already been discussed which have been vetoed by either myself or OH

I like more modern sounding names like Eren, Evren, Emre, Enver, Erol (the E thing is not deliberate, I promise)

OH likes traditional names like Hayat, Kadir, Ali, Ahmet, Serkan etc (I do not)

We have trawled through every internet site you can think of and Aslan is (so far) the only name we both don't hate.

Kemal is another one but we know so many kemals it puts me off

[sel2223]

@Lordfrontpaw not sure about Tarzan haha but Tarkan is a pretty popular Turkish name 😉

[greenemerald]

I think Aslan is nice! I've heard of it being used as a name due to my own cultural background and wouldn't automatically think of LWW. However really love the girls choice of Alara

[ArnoldBee]

I'm guessing you don't like Kasim then?

[sel2223]

@ArnoldBee as in the Turkish word for November?

[ThePlantsitter]

Tarzan is an African name. Aslan is a Turkish name. Sensing a theme in the 'names we allow our children to laugh at' and it ain't literature.

[ArnoldBee]

Yes but also means sowing seeds apparently.

[jillandhersprite]

Love love love Aslan!
White heritage and it doesn't make me think of God - just a key character in a very popular children's book. Yes aware that the book and the author can be dissected to death if so wished by people that are into that sort of thing...
Do not think you are setting the kids up for a lifetime of pain because of his name...

[Lucylivesinamushroomhouse]

YASSSSSSS love the name Aslan. Mumsnetters can be a weirdly conservative/risk averse bunch when it comes to baby names. Clearly no one in real life is being teased for being called Aslan. Baby groups these days are full of Atticuses and Bowies and Barneys and Woodys and all kinds of “crazy” names that most of Mumsnet would freak out at! He won’t stand out. Other than for having an awesome name.

It’s a perfect name that connects your 2 cultures and ticks all the boxes. Do it!!!

[Dio23489432489234]

Just thinking of potential jibes from peers as growing up. Have 3 boys all with ordinary names. Boys esp will take the p about everything and anything. But hey it’s up to you. So many prospective parents are desperate for a different, never heard that one before name. Forgetting that the kid to carry it with them for ever*

I just don't agree when it comes to names. I went to an inner city school in London. Bullying (and gentler piss taking) were of course rife. But there were loads of foreign and unusual names about, and I only ONCE in my entire school life heard anyone getting the piss taken out of their name, and do you know what it was? Luke. This boy got called Luke the Puke for 5 years. Bet his parents thought Luke was a safe name!

[RightOnTheEdge]

This has been such an interesting thread!
I feel I've learned a lot in 11 pages.

I read the title and and thought Oh no you can't call him that.
I have never come across the name anywhere but the book. I didn't realise it was a proper name.
I have also completely missed that Aslan represented Jesus in the book.
It's totally obvious now it's been pointed out though.
I really don't think it's the equivalent of calling him God or Jesus though it's totally different.

Over the last 11 pages Aslan has grown on me. I now love it!

[Breastfeedingworries]

I like the name. Also lots of boys are called jesus and Mohammed.... 🤷🏼‍♀️

[RightOnTheEdge]

I love the name Emre/Emrah.
I see you said you love it too OP. Have you pointed out to your dp that he's vetoing that name for being too popular but would love to call him Mohammad, the most popular name in the world

[Ellmau]

Orhan?

[Isbutteracarb]

I love Aslan! FWIW I've never read Narnia so no connotations whatever, it just sounds like a perfectly nice name to me. I get wanting to have names the sound the same in both languages, my DH is Polish so we chose the Polish version of a classic name I thought would be pretty straightforward but people often mistake it for the English name which is pronounced differently. Not a huge deal but it does happen a lot.

Not sure if it's been mentioned already but have you considered Orhan?

[littlealexhorne]

Its really grown on me as I've read the thread too! Also I'm British and had no idea there was any religious connotation/connection.

[Oakeyy]

I do just think of the lion from the Lion, Witch and Wardrobe etc. But I'm sure the baby would begin to own the name once it's established and then people would think of him, not the lion, once they knew him.

Amelie was very famous for the film and there are sooooo many Amelie's now that I don't bat an eye. If you really like it, go for it.

[blueruin]

I know an Aslan. I thought it was a little bit funny at first because it made me think of Narnia but not any longer. He's an awesome kid and he 'owns' his name.

[mynameiswah]

Aslan is a great name but I've always thought it would suit a dog (or cat). In fact, it's on my list of pet names, if I ever get one.