Holding steady, #3,780 for girls today.
Popularity of Aisling since 1972
Babies named Aisling per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 15 |
| 1980s | 166 |
| 1990s | 296 |
| 2000s | 407 |
| 2010s | 422 |
| 2020s | 227 |
Meaning & origin
Aisling, pronounced ASH-ling, is an Irish name meaning 'dream' or 'vision,' rooted in the Old Irish 'aislinge.' It entered U.S. records in 1972, later rising to its peak popularity in 2002 (rank 3,780 in 2025). The name has seen a stable trajectory in recent years, with about 1 in 41,212 female newborns receiving it in 2025. It is most common in states with large Irish-American populations, led by New York and California. Aisling belongs to a category of authentic Irish names that gained international visibility through Irish literature and diaspora culture, distinct from anglicized variants like Aislinn and Ashling.
Aisling derives from the Old Irish word 'aislinge', meaning 'dream' or 'vision'. In Irish literature, an aisling is a genre of vision poetry popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, in which a woman representing Ireland appears to the poet in a dream. The name has been used as a given name since the mid-20th century, particularly in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora.
Where Aisling is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Aisling” around the world
Where Aisling lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
26
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ash, Ashie
Sibling names for Aisling
Names that share Aisling's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Aoife, Ciara, Maeve, Niamh, Saoirse, Caitlin, Catelyn, Ciana, Deidre, Deirdre, Keeley, Leana, Meara, Moira, Rheanna, Seanna, Shanon, Tarah, Treasa, Anam, Bridgid, Fia, Fionna, Keera, Maire, Morrigan, Neala, Niva, Riona, Teaghan, Caitriona, Catelin, Ceili, Dierdra, Enda, Fianna, Keeva, Sorcha, Eavan, Abaigeal, Abiageal, Cheila, Emer, Meaghann, Shivonne
Brothers: Cian, Declan, Fionn, Liam, Oisin, Caelan, Calin, Conan, Conor, Cormac, Dempsey, Donavon, Evin, Keagan, Kelan, Nevin, Nyle, Olan, Oran, Rian, Seamus, Shaine, Shamus, Teague, Torin, Brenan, Bron, Caelen, Cashel, Chael, Fintan, Kavan, Kean, Keeghan, Keiran, Kieren, Tadhg, Caven, Conall, Esker, Faolan, Kealan, Keelen, Konor, Kyllian, Marcas, Neill, Niam, Tighe, Whalen, Bowan, Broghan, Conal, Conn, Corran, Desmund, Gaelen, Keanen, Keevan, Kelian, Konan, Lochlin, Nial, Nyal, Ossian
