Is Aisling too boring?

[Snowbell99]

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?

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.

@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.

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.

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.

@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.

@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".

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.

Ahh, sorry!

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.

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.

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