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NamyLab

Alistair

male
Updated 7 months ago

Meaning

"Defender of Men"

Alistair is the Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander, commonly interpreted as defender of men.

Themes:scottishgaelicalexanderdefender
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Fact-checked by Marcus Chen

B.A. Anthropology, UC BerkeleyMultilingual (4 languages)Cultural Research Fellow • Senior Name Researcher

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Alistair

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#905Top 1000

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Selected Year Rank
#905

Alistair was nationally ranked in 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year
+14

better than 2023

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Alistair Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Alistair.

8 ideas
Aliie
Nickname
Alis
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aliy
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alis
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tair
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airy
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al
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isty
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Similar Names to Alistair

male

Andrew

AN-droo

“Manly; Strong”

#68
|Greek
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Alexander

al-ig-ZAN-der

“Defender of Men”

#27
|Greek
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Aaron

AIR-un

“Exalted; Mountain of Strength”

#79
|Hebrew
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Alex

“Defender”

#205
|Greek
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Angel

“Messenger”

#63
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Alejandro

“Defender of Men”

#184
|Spanish
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Andre

“Manly”

#350
|French
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Aidan

“Little Fiery One”

#312
|Irish
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Arnold

“Eagle Power”

#1681
|Germanic
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Allan

“Rock; Handsome”

#851
|Scottish

Baby Name Lists That Include Alistair

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Alistair, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

22 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Alistair mean?
Alistair means "Defender of Men". Alistair is the Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander, commonly interpreted as defender of men.
What is the origin of Alistair?
Alistair is of Scottish origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.
How popular is the name Alistair?
According to the latest SSA data, Alistair is currently ranked #905 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.
Is Alistair a boy name?
Alistair is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.
What are good nicknames for Alistair?
Popular nicknames for Alistair include Aliie, Alis, aliy, alis, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.
What names are similar to Alistair?
There are many names similar to Alistair in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginScottish, Greek
Syllables3
Length8 letters
US Rank#905
Trend↑ Rising
Starts withA

Sibling Ideas

Explore More Boy Names Like Alistair

Alistair has Scottish roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Scottish baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Alistair appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Classic Greek Baby Names and Names That Mean Fire Warrior for Boys and Girls for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Last Names That Mean Warrior and Names That Mean The Sun for Boys and Girls.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Alistair pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Alistair beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.