Alistair
Alistair is a boy's name of Scottish origin.
Meaning
Defender of mankind.
Origin and history
Alistair is the anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic name Alasdair, which is derived from the Greek name Alexander. It carries the traditional meaning of defender of mankind. In the United States, it has grown in usage in recent years as an elegant, classic alternative to Alexander.
Popularity in the United States
4,088 babies in the United States have been named Alistair since 1880. It ranks #1964 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #854.
States where it is most popular
- CA (18.2 %)
- TX (10.6 %)
- NY (8 %)
- FL (5.7 %)
- OH (5.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 7 |
| 1960-1970 | 11 |
| 1970-1980 | 96 |
| 1980-1990 | 112 |
| 1990-2000 | 190 |
| 2000-2010 | 449 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,722 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,501 |
Famous people named Alistair
- Alistair Cooke: Journalist, Broadcaster
- Alistair MacLean: Novelist, Author
- Alistair Overeem: Mixed Martial Artist, Kickboxer
Nicknames
Al, Ally
Fun facts
- Alistair originated as the Scottish Gaelic adaptation of Alexander during the Middle Ages.
- Several early kings of Scotland bore the original Gaelic form, Alasdair.