Ashling O'Shea is a British-Irish actress. From 2022 to 2024, O'Shea portrayed regular character Nadira Valli on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. Following her departure from the soap, O'Shea performed in The Lesson at Theatre503 in early 2024, and portrayed Ursula Wilson in the 2025 television series The Crow Girl. She is of Irish and Sri Lankan descent.
Ashling made the top 100 in Ireland (even though the original, Aisling, was much more popular and a top 10 name for several years as well as a top 20 name for over a decade).Ashling made the top 100 from 1976-1979, 1983-1988, 1990-1991 and 1993-1995.Ashling's highest placement in Ireland was #76 in 1990.Aisling's highest placement was #8 in 1991.
― Anonymous User 3/2/2021
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I personally prefer Aisling as it looks more authentic to me. But in regions where people would encounter pronunciation problems Ashling might be a good alternative.
I have always heard it meaning "the protector of the Ash tree" like a fairy that protects Ash trees. It is also the name of the fairy friend in the movie The Secret of Kells.