Alister
Alister is a boy's name of Scottish origin.
Meaning
Defender of the people.
Origin and history
Alister is an Anglicized Scottish form of Alexander, tracing back to the Greek name Alexandros. It has seen steady, moderate growth in the United States in recent years as an alternative spelling to Alistair. The name carries a classic Gaelic charm while retaining a familiar, timeless origin.
Popularity in the United States
1,659 babies in the United States have been named Alister since 1880. It ranks #3113 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1319.
States where it is most popular
- CA (28.1 %)
- TX (27.8 %)
- FL (8.3 %)
- OH (5.8 %)
- NC (4.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 5 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 0 |
| 1980-1990 | 48 |
| 1990-2000 | 64 |
| 2000-2010 | 170 |
| 2010-2019 | 736 |
| 2020-2029 | 636 |
Famous people named Alister
- Alister Hardy: Marine Biologist, Professor
- Alister Clark: Horticulturist, Rose Breeder
Nicknames
Al, Ali, Ally
Fun facts
- Alister is a phonetic Anglicization of Alasdair, the Gaelic variant of Alexander.
- While Alistair and Alastair are more traditional British spellings, Alister is a recognized streamlined variant.