What is the origin of the name Alistair?

Alistair is a name of Scottish origin.

How popular is the name Alistair?

Alistair is currently ranked #905 in the United States and is stable in popularity.

How do you pronounce Alistair?

Alistair is pronounced AL-ih-stair.

Back to all names

BoyScottish

Alistair

AL-ih-stair

Popularity

#905

stable

Letters

Syllables

Origin

Scottish

Total Births

3,822

Peak Year

#257 in 2024

First Recorded

1956

Style

Classic & Timeless, Sophisticated & Formal

Spelling

Moderate spelling

What It Means

Alistair is the Anglicized form of Alasdair, a Scottish Gaelic version of Alexander, meaning 'defender of mankind'.

Nickname Watch

Al Ally Ali

Kids pick up nicknames whether parents plan for it or not. Make sure you like the short forms too.

Numerology

The Achiever

Powerful, determined, and success-oriented. Names at 8 project confidence and ambition.

Famous Namesakes

Alistair MacLean
Scottish novelist, known for thriller novels.
Alistair Darling
British Labour Party politician

Nicknames

Al Ally Ali

Spelling Variations

Alasdair Alexander Alester

Similar Names

Alexander Alistair Alistaire Alistair

Personality Traits

ProtectiveStrongIntelligentLeadership

Want to explore Alistair further?

Get personalized name suggestions or dive deep into the cultural history of Alistair.

Ask AI Consultant Cultural Deep-Dive →

More Names to Explore

View all

Logan

Scottish

Boy

Meaning

A Scottish surname derived from a place name, possibly meaning 'small hollow'.

Modern & Trendy·Strong & Bold·Easy to spell

Rank #391

falling

Cameron

Scottish

Boy

Meaning

Cameron is a Scottish name derived from a Gaelic surname meaning 'crooked nose' or 'crooked river'.

Modern & Trendy·Moderate spelling

Rank #485

stable

Ian

Scottish

Boy

Meaning

A Scottish Gaelic form of John, derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious'.

Classic & Timeless·Easy to spell

Rank #11449

stable