NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Ashlan

An Arabic name meaning "handsome, beautiful, or gentle".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Ashlan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ashlan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4702, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2014 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Ashlan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2020 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Ashlan ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2014, when 3 boys were registered as Ashlan.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ashlan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4702

2019

Births in 2019

3

Latest year

Peak year

2014

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Ashlan mean?

The name Ashlan is believed to have its origins in the Persian language, derived from the word "Ashlan" which means "noble" or "highborn." This name first appeared in the ancient Persian Empire, which spanned across modern-day Iran, Iraq, and parts of Central Asia, during the first millennium BCE.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Ashlan can be found in the Shahnameh, the epic Persian poem written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century CE. In this literary masterpiece, Ashlan is portrayed as a brave warrior and noble prince, reflecting the name's connotation of nobility and valor.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Ashlan. One such individual was Ashlan ibn Qays, a 7th-century Arab poet and warrior who fought alongside the Prophet Muhammad during the early days of Islam. His poems, which celebrated valor and chivalry, have been preserved and studied by scholars.

In the 12th century, Ashlan al-Katib, an esteemed calligrapher and scribe from Baghdad, achieved renown for his exquisite calligraphic works. His intricate and elegant writing style influenced generations of calligraphers throughout the Islamic world.

Another prominent figure bearing the name Ashlan was Ashlan Beg, a 16th-century Uzbek ruler who governed the Khanate of Bukhara, a powerful Central Asian state. He is remembered for his patronage of the arts and his efforts to promote cultural exchange between the Persian and Turkic spheres of influence.

In more recent times, Ashlan Sohrab (1876-1952) was an influential Persian poet and literary critic who played a significant role in the revival of classical Persian literature during the early 20th century. His works, which celebrated traditional Persian values and ideals, were widely read and admired.

While the name Ashlan may not be as commonplace today as it once was, its rich historical roots and association with nobility, bravery, and cultural achievement continue to imbue it with a sense of distinction and reverence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ashlan over time

The chart below shows babies named Ashlan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Ashlan, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ashlan
01223201420162019

Decades

Ashlan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ashlan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #4667 6 2

Related

Names similar to Ashlan

FAQ

Ashlan: questions and answers

How popular is the name Ashlan in the UK right now?

In 2019, Ashlan was ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Ashlan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2014, with 3 babies registered as Ashlan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ashlan?

An Arabic name meaning "handsome, beautiful, or gentle".

How many people are called Ashlan in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Ashlan across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.