Currently really loving the name [name_u]Ash[/name_u]. It’s been on my list for well over a decade but has recently really gone up in my esteem.
My DH thinks it’s okay but would prefer it to be short for something. Neither of us are particularly enamoured by [name_u]Ashley[/name_u], [name_u]Ashton[/name_u] or [name_m]Asher[/name_m]. Are there any other names out there that [name_u]Ash[/name_u] could be short for that would fit with our surname (sounds like [name_m]Cotton[/name_m])?
Maybe:
[name_u]Asa[/name_u], [name_u]Aspen[/name_u], [name_m]Aston[/name_m], [name_m]Asmund[/name_m], [name_m]Abrasha[/name_m], [name_m]Cashel[/name_m], [name_m]Cassian[/name_m], [name_m]Cassius[/name_m], [name_m]Cassiel[/name_m], [name_m]Dashiell[/name_m], [name_m]Jasha[/name_m], [name_u]Ashby[/name_u], [name_m]Nashua[/name_m], [name_m]Lasho[/name_m], [name_u]Sasha[/name_u], Ashford.
I prefer just [name_u]Ash[/name_u].
Possibly Joash, Aberash, [name_m]Nash[/name_m], or [name_m]Hamish[/name_m].
My partner loves it and the ways I like getting NN ash are
[name_u]Ashton[/name_u]
[name_m]Asher[/name_m]
[name_m]Sebastian[/name_m]
[name_m]Cassius[/name_m] nn [name_u]Ash[/name_u] (prn [name_m]Cash[/name_m]-us)
[name_m]Dashiell[/name_m]
So do I but my DH would prefer it to be a nickname for something, a fair compromise I think!
Thank you for all your suggestions. Ashford would be funny as it’s the name of a town we have lived in! I’ll have a chat with DH and see is he loves any of them 
Sorry, I’ve probably missed the boat, but I know an [name_u]Ash[/name_u] whose real Name is Ashriel. Joash is also a great way to get there! 
My favorite is definitely [name_m]Asher[/name_m]. I like the suggestion of [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m]–never thought of it before, but it definitely works. Also, I think Ashford is great!
[name_f]Aisling[/name_f] is an Irish name meaning “dream, vision” and it’s pronounced [name_u]Ash[/name_u]-[name_f]Linn[/name_f] or [name_u]Ash[/name_u]-Leen. Here is the link to the nameberry page… Aisling - Baby Name Meaning, Origin, and Popularity | Nameberry
I just want to add to what lainy said: [name_f]Aislinn[/name_f] is another alternative, also Irish (pronounced the same way, but I think they formed a bit differently).
[name_m]Cassian[/name_m]/[name_m]Cassius[/name_m] (prn. [name_m]CASH[/name_m]-en/[name_m]CASH[/name_m]-us), [name_m]Dashiell[/name_m], [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m]