Alistair
Alistair is a boys' name of Scottish origin meaning “defender of men.” It ranked #897 in the United States in 2025. A Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander, derived through the Anglicization of Alasdair.
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how do you pronounce Alistair?
AL-ih-stair
where does the name Alistair come from?
An anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic Alasdair, itself a variant of the Norman Alexandre or Latin Alexander, ultimately from the Greek Alexandros. The Greek elements mean to defend, or to repel, and man, giving defender of men or one who repels men. Allaster is another anglicisation of the same name.
The name has a distinctly Scottish literary and aristocratic character and is associated with a certain old-world intellectual charm.
how popular is this name?
Alistair has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 9 years since 2016, and fell outside it for 1. It peaked at #885 in 2016, and ranked #897 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #897 |
| 2024 | #909 |
| 2023 | #921 |
| 2022 | #929 |
| 2021 | #901 |
| 2020 | #961 |
| 2019 | #968 |
| 2017 | #929 |
| 2016 | #885 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Alistair fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Alistair?
- Alistair Cooke (journalist and broadcaster)
- Alistair MacLean (novelist)
- Alistair Darling (British politician)
what are the nicknames and variants of Alistair?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Alistair?
what names go well with Alistair?
Sibling names that share Alistair's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Alistair
What does the name Alistair mean?
Alistair means “defender of men”.
What is the origin of the name Alistair?
Alistair comes from the Scottish naming tradition. Related forms include Alasdair and Allaster.
How popular is the name Alistair?
Alistair ranked #897 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data.
Is Alistair a boy or girl name?
Alistair is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Alistair?
Alistair is pronounced AL-ih-stair, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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