Alastair
Alastair was the 2147th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 67 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 453 places. More babies were named Alastair in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Alistair) defender of men (via Alexander) · Scottish Gaelic, Greek
- Rank in 2025
- #2,147 boys, up 833 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 67boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 202567 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,364babies recorded
What does the name Alastair mean?
Alastair is a spelling of Alistair, pronounced the same way, so it shares Alistair's meaning and origin.
Alistair is an English spelling of Alasdair, the Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander, which reached Gaelic through Norman French or Latin. Alexander is Greek Alexandros, made of alexein 'to defend, ward off' and anēr (stem andr-) 'man', so roughly 'defender of men'. DMNES lists a 12th-century king of Scotland among the many early bearers of Alexander. Alastair and Alasdair are other common spellings.
Alasdair (Scottish Gaelic, “Alexander”)ἀλέξω (Ancient Greek, “to defend”)ἀνήρ (Ancient Greek, “man”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Alasdair, Alastair, Alister, Alexander.
See also: Greek names, names that mean protector.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Alistair', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Alexander', DMNES, Durham University
Alastair popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,147 | 67 |
| 2020 | #2,980 | 39 |
| 2010 | #3,997 | 25 |
| 2000 | #5,302 | 13 |
| 1990 | #4,173 | 13 |
| 1980 | #4,509 | 8 |
| 1970 | #3,283 | 9 |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Alastair, counting every spelling?
Alastair is a spelling of Alistair, a name family that ranked #742 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #2,147 for Alastair on its own. Together these spellings went to 338 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alistair | 265 | #897 | 1,275 |
| Alastair | 67 | #2,147 | 297 |
| Allistair | 6 | #10,757 | 27 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Alastair?
67 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Alastair (0.02 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Alastair born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 125 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Alastair.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Alastair?
About 1,300 people born in the US named Alastair are alive today, with a median age of 13; half are between 6 and 27. That makes Alastair mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Alastair by state
How common Alastair was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 45 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Alastair: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Alastair, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Alastair
What does Alastair mean?
Alastair is a spelling of Alistair, which means “defender of men (via Alexander)” (Scottish Gaelic, Greek origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Alastair?
Alastair was the 2147th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 67 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 453 places. More babies were named Alastair in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Alastair a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Alastair in the US.
Where is Alastair most popular?
In 2021–2025, Alastair was most common in Oregon (0.08 per 1,000 boys), followed by Washington and California.