Aylan

Meaning of Aylan

Aylan is a masculine given name whose etymology encompasses both Celtic and Turkic lineages. In the Anglo-American context, it is often regarded as a variant spelling of Alan—derived from Old Breton Alun and ultimately tracing back to a Proto-Celtic root signifying “rock” or “handsome”—and transmitted through medieval Breton and Welsh naming traditions. Within the Turkic linguistic sphere, it appears as a transliteration of Aylin, formed from ay (“moon”) and a morphological element indicating “halo” or “light,” thus associating the name with lunar radiance. The global recognition of Aylan was further accentuated in 2015 by widespread media coverage of the Syrian-Kurdish boy Aylan Kurdi, whose story brought the name into international humanitarian discourse. Although it remains infrequent in the United States, Social Security Administration records since 2010 attest to its modest yet stable use, with annual occurrences varying between five and ninety-six births and rankings typically occupying positions in the 830–900 range.