View Message

I went to school with a girl named Ashley (who was in fact blonde and preppy and popular, but also nice to the shy girl), and I've always liked it better on a girl. I love the name, but would hesitate to use it because of how popular it was. I like Aisling, but I'd probably pronounce it wrong, and I wouldn't want to fight for the spelling with all her American teachers.

---

*****
And last of all an Admiral came,
A terrible man with a terrible name,—
A name which you all know by sight very well;
But which no one can speak, and no one can spell.

---

Robert Southey, "The March to Moscow"