Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Aisling
GirlIrish· “dream, vision”
- Meaning
- dream, vision
- Origin
- Irish
- Pronunciation
- ASH-lihng
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #3,782
- US babies 2025
- 39
- Best rank
- #2,555 (2002)
- Peak year
- 2002
Meaning and origin of Aisling
Aisling is an Irish name that means “dream, vision”.
Aisling is an Irish name meaning dream or vision. In Irish literature, an aisling is also a genre of poetry that flourished in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, in which Ireland appears to the poet as a beautiful woman lamenting her fate and foretelling better days. The word was taken up as a given name during the Irish revival of the twentieth century. It is said ASH-lihng, with the stress on the first syllable, which surprises many English readers. Ashling is the phonetic spelling and Aislinn a related form. Ash is a short option.
Popularity over time
Aisling first appears in US Social Security records in 1972. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #2,555 in 2002, the same year it reached its highest count of 61 babies. In 2025, 39 babies were named Aisling, and it ranked #3,782 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #9,111 in 1980, #3,666 in 2000, #3,625 in 2010, and #3,782 in 2025. Of the 1,533 US girls named Aisling since records began, 28% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 407 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Angelle, Mikenna, Takiya, Nevada, and Endia.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Aisling ranked highest in New York and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New York | #1659 | 7 |
| California | #2499 | 7 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Aisling is usually pronounced ASH-lihng, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with A and ends in “-ng”.
Middle names for Aisling
A few middle names that flow with Aisling: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Aisling
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Lists that include Aisling
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Aisling mean?
Aisling is an Irish name that means “dream, vision”.
What is the origin of the name Aisling?
Aisling has Irish roots. Aisling is an Irish name meaning dream or vision.
Is Aisling a popular name?
Not especially. Aisling ranked #3,782 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Aisling a boy or girl name?
Aisling is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Aisling?
Aisling is usually pronounced ASH-lihng. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings