aylan

Aylan can refer to several things, most notably a given name and a surname. As a given name, Aylan is often used for boys and is of Turkish origin, meaning "moon halo" or "circle of light around the moon." It can also be found as a feminine given name in some cultures. As a surname, Aylan is less common but exists in various parts of the world.

One prominent association with the name Aylan arose in 2015 due to the tragic death of Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian boy whose first name was often transliterated as Aylan in some media. His image, found washed ashore on a beach in Turkey after a capsized boat carrying refugees, became a powerful symbol of the European migrant crisis and garnered international attention, sparking widespread debate and calls for action. While the boy's name was Alan, the phonetic similarity and media coverage led to the widespread use and recognition of "Aylan" in connection with this event. This singular event significantly raised the profile of the name, albeit under somber circumstances.