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'?

@missyoumuch @cbeebiesrehab thank you both.

I knew opinions would be divided but thought it would just be because it's not a common name in the UK. I'm surprised how many people just can't separate it from the book character.

I loved TCON books as a child so just thought it was kind of cool that it was a character name from them as well as a traditional Turkish name. It's just a children's story. I never thought of it as being akin to naming my child Jesus or God lol 🤣

Can I make a suggestion? Next time your dp is with a group of people he doesn’t know, tell him to introduce himself as Aslan and see how it goes. Then imagine what it would be like to be an 11 year old starting secondary school- not the supercool
11 year old we all imagine our kids are going to be, but a scared, vulnerable 11 year old who hasn’t had his growth spurt yet. And then name your baby something that, as far as you can ensure it, doesn’t make his life even a little bit harder than it needs to be.

“ I'm surprised how many people just can't separate it from the book character.”

Why are you surprised? It is literally the only reference people in the U.K. have. It’s like Cinderella. It’s not like, say, Winston, for example, which has very strong associations with Churchill but not exclusive.

I actually think it's a lovely name and that many names are also characters and it's no biggie.

@bertrandrussell OH is Turkish and it's a fairly normal name in Turkey. We've come across people of all ages named Aslan before and honestly nobody bats an eyelid.

I do get that a lot of people in the UK have no other reference than TCON but, as others have mentioned, it's also been used in other literature and previous posters even mentioned a rock band in Ireland and a chechan warlord lol so it's not exclusive. And I disagree about it being like 'Cinderella' (which was a name made up by Disney from cinders as opposed to an established name from another culture which has been around for a very, very long time before being used in a book).

If you read through this thread, there are plenty of posters who actually know or have met children and adults called Aslan and none have mentioned them being bullied or having a hard time for it.

I honestly dont mind opinions on the name, good or bad. But I think suggesting we are somehow setting our child up for a fall by choosing a name from his Turkish heritage, just because it's been used in a book, is a bit harsh.

Mohammed (and all the spelling variations) is the most common name in the world. Should all Mohammeds expect a life of bullying and misery because of the religious connotations of that name?

Aslan isn't even a religious name lol. It literally means 'lion'

If someone introduced themselves as Aslan in my ds secondary school, there would be absolutely no issue.
Maybe because it’s a diverse school with lots of children from various backgrounds.

Oh I love it! It sounds kind of noble.

“sel2223

@bertrandrussell OH is Turkish and it's a fairly normal name in Turkey. We've come across people of all ages named Aslan before and honestly nobody bats an eyelid.“
I understand. But that is why he needs to check out how it would go down in the U.K. If that is where he is intending to bring up his child.

@BertrandRussell the British Aslan I know really has no issues with it. Maybe if you’re in a diverse area like they are that helps but it’s not a major problem. Children hardly know the Christ allegory and adults are mature enough to understand it’s a name from another culture.

Is it Ass-lan or Az-lan?

I'd think of Narnia too but that's not a bad thing is it? It's not like it's known to be a made-up name (like Rumpelstiltskin - although I'm sure someone will be along to tell me it's a real one), or the name of a horrible character (real or imaginary).

@BertrandRussell except it’s absolutely nothing like calling your child Cinderella though is it? Cinderella is a made up Disney name. Aslan is a popular Turkish name, used by many, that happens to also be the name of a fictional lion. To compare it to Cinderella is a bit insulting.

“To compare it to Cinderella is a bit insulting.”

In the culture I assume your child will be brought up in, it is exactly like being called Cinderella. In a different culture it isn’t.

I'm in the UK, know the Narnia connections, but if I met an Aslan would think, "it's Turkish for Lion". If I met a Cinderella I'd think the child's parents were bonkers. Entirely different!

I like it. It's unusual but not pretentious or contived. Go for it!

Children aren't born with prejudice, it's learned behaviour!
The UK is very diverse now and I know from my nieces and nephews friendship groups that there are all kinds of names out there now. Kids don't know the difference, they don't know what's a common name or a name from a different culture. It's just the name of their friend or someone in their class. Some names they recognise from books or films like Elsa and Anna or Thomas (the tank engine) or Aslan from TCON. It's no big deal to them.
I think it's only the parents that would make any issue of it, not other children.

And i honestly don't think many children reading or watching TCON get the religious connection, i know I didn't until I was much older. I just thought it was a cool fantasy story. By the time they're old enough to 'get it', i'd hope they'd also be mature enough to know about other cultures and backgrounds 😊

Do all the boys called Harry have issues because of Harry Potter?

Aslan is a great name. Im a big fan of lions

I really like it

@BertrandRussell
By your logic if you raise a child in the U.K. you must only name them names recognisable in U.K. culture then? Otherwise they are deemed as ridiculous as Cinderella
OP I think the fact you are defending the name so much (with good reason!) shows you clearly think a lot of it...seems like it could be the one!

Do all the boys called Harry have issues because of Harry Potter?

Well if my surname was Potter I wouldn't call my son Harry.
If my surname was Granger I wouldn't go for Hermione for my daughter.

It doesn't mean that you can't use the name Aslan, in a multi cultural area it may well draw minimal comment.
I also cannot imagine anyone saying anything to your face either way.

I think it's great and relevant to your child's roots

I like Aslan. Even if people first think of the lion from Narnia, they will get used to it in no time. It’s straightforward to pronounce which I think is important (my son’s name is ordinary in the U.K. but uncommon and often mispronounced where we live now, and it’s annoying).

My favourite Turkish name is Levent.

It’s not the same as Harry Potter though. It’s more similar to calling your child Allah. I’d find it uncomfortable to call a child Aslan.