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Baby names

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

Original poster

Alex Aslan as a baby name

51 replies

GreenMerlin · 09/02/2023 21:32

Hi all, We are a Turkish couple who have been living in London for almost 10 years. We are expecting a baby boy in August and finding it really hard to come up with a name. We would like to use both a British and a Turkish name so the child has a choice to use whichever he prefers. Can I hear you views? Would you think that's too pretentious?

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Doidontimmm · 09/02/2023 21:33

Is Aslan the middle name?

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 09/02/2023 21:34

Hope you like the Chronicles of Narnia!

CatOnTheChair · 09/02/2023 21:35

As a middle name or a surname, it's fine.
If you love it, go for it.

MichelleScarn · 09/02/2023 21:35

I think while both are lovely, with the Aslan, people may link too much to Narnia? That may just be my 90s kid generation though!

Daffodilis · 09/02/2023 21:36

I prefer Aslan to Alex, not sure of the initials AA though

Haffdonga · 09/02/2023 21:36

2 great names separately but a bit of a tongue twister with all those A, L and S sounds in both.

jacult · 09/02/2023 21:37

Neither are pretentious, in the uk one is one of the most popular first names and the other is a well loved character from a children’s story. Will they be hyphenated or two separate first names.

Circumferences · 09/02/2023 21:37

It's a beautiful name in my opinion. Normal English person here.

Original poster
GreenMerlin · 09/02/2023 21:38

Yes, I'm thinking of it as a middle name but I think our Turkish relatives would prefer to use it primarily, as any english names would be difficult for them to pronounce :)

OP posts:
BuffaloCauliflower · 09/02/2023 21:40

I’d just use Aslan as his first name, it’s perfectly pronounceable in English and won’t stand out in London. He doesn’t need an English name as well. There will be those who make the Narnia connection, but it’s not a bad one and they’re will be plenty of similar names in his class (speaking as someone in London who’s children have uncommon names)

Original poster
GreenMerlin · 09/02/2023 21:40

that's a worry for me, Aslan is a common Turkish name which means Lion. I like the name as I'm a big cat lover rather than Narnia fan. Although I quite like Narnia too

OP posts:
Daffodilis · 09/02/2023 21:43

GreenMerlin · 09/02/2023 21:40

that's a worry for me, Aslan is a common Turkish name which means Lion. I like the name as I'm a big cat lover rather than Narnia fan. Although I quite like Narnia too

I wouldn't worry about it too be honest, new generations will not give it much credence

ofwarren · 09/02/2023 21:45

For a Turkish child living in London, the name Aslan would be totally fine. Nobody would think it was strange at all.
It's a nice sounding name and I actually really like The Chronicles of Narnia. Aslan is awesome.

lunar1 · 09/02/2023 21:47

I think Aslan is a lovely name and would work fine in the UK. I went to school with an Aslan and he never had a problem with the Narnia connection.

Wonderpoo · 09/02/2023 21:47

Narnia is allegorical and Aslan is Jesus. Are you Christians?

royalrecording · 09/02/2023 21:49

Wonderpoo · 09/02/2023 21:47

Narnia is allegorical and Aslan is Jesus. Are you Christians?

They’ve said really clearly they’re using it because they’re Turkish and it’s a common Turkish name?

Shodan · 09/02/2023 21:51

Biased as ds2 has the same first name, but I think they're both lovely names.

IMO Aslan Alex 'flows' better than Alex Aslan though.

Daffodilis · 09/02/2023 21:53

Wonderpoo · 09/02/2023 21:47

Narnia is allegorical and Aslan is Jesus. Are you Christians?

There is a world outside the Narnia books

TheVanguardSix · 09/02/2023 21:54

I adore the name Aslan. It’s a beautiful name. My friend’s half Turkish son is Attila, which I also love.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 09/02/2023 22:39

Go with Aslan, it's a great name and no need to Anglicise anything

Pinkdafodils · 09/02/2023 23:24

Definitely use Aslan as his first name! Beautiful name that is memorable and reflects his heritage.

Alex is dull and overused imo

Original poster
GreenMerlin · 09/02/2023 23:30

Thank you all for your comments! I actually want to use Aslan only. I was worried that a Turkish name may sound strange or would be too difficult to pronounce for an English person and of course our child hating us for not giving him an average name!! Many of our friends ended up giving their kids English names for this reason such as Noah and I have no issue with that it's just for me I'd like my kid's name to be in my native language. So very much relieved by the sentiment on this thread :)

OP posts:
Whydoitry · 10/02/2023 08:12

I love Aslan! I wanted to use it but I'm not Turkish and husband vetoed. I do know a Turkish Aslan.

Much more interesting than Alex. I don't love the flow of Alex Aslan or AA initials, but middle names are rarely used so it doesn't really matter.

Use Aslan!

UnicorseTime · 10/02/2023 08:16

Aslan is lovely and most people in parents generation will have heard of it due to Nania (and meaning lion) so it won't be unfamiliar/too "different" sounding. Yet I've never met one so will be nicely unique (maybe less so in london) bit will make a nice change. Go with it!

Teeshirt · 10/02/2023 08:32

Aslan is great as a first name.

The Narnia books are classics and will always be around and be known - they definitely aren’t just associated with any one generation, and never will be. I read them in the early ‘70s when I was a child. But that’s no bad thing at all.

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