This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance
- Meaning
- Defender of men/mankind (via Alexander)
- Origin
- Scottish Gaelic (form of Alexander)
- Gender
- Primarily used for boys
- Pronunciation
- AL-uh-ster
Alastair is the Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander, and it keeps that name's meaning: defender of men. Social Security records go back to 1922 for this name, so it has a long, quiet history in the U.S. even though it has never been common. If you want something tied to Alexander without using Alexander itself, this is a direct line to it.
Meaning & Origin of Alastair
Meaning: Defender of men/mankind (via Alexander).
Origin: Scottish Gaelic (form of Alexander).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Alastair
AL-uh-sterIPA /ˈæləstər/
Popularity of Alastair
Alastair peaked in 2017 at #2187, with 61 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had slipped a bit to #2364, with 59 babies.
Names Like Alastair
These names have followed a similar path to Alastair in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Alastair mean?
Defender of men/mankind (via Alexander). (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Alastair?
Alastair is pronounced AL-uh-ster (IPA: /ˈæləstər/).
Is Alastair a popular name right now?
Alastair is near its all-time peak (#2187 in 2017), ranked #2364 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1922–2024.)
Make Alastair Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Alastair, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Alastair? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
