Origin, Meaning, And History Of Alistair
Alistair is the English version of the Scottish Gaelic given name Alasdair, which derives from the Greek name Alexandros or Alexander in Latin. It consists of the words ‘alexo,’ which commonly means ‘to defend’ or ‘to guard,’ and ‘aner,’ which means ‘man.’ Thus, the name means ‘defender of men’ or ‘one who repels men.’
Alasdair is also considered a variation of Norman French Alexandre, and Aliaster is a lesser-known Anglicized version—the name Alexander can be found in ancient Greek culture. Alexander was the other name of the Greek mythological character Paris, who kidnapped Helen of Troy to begin the Trojan war. There are several characters in the New Testament named Alexander as well. The most well-known of all is Alexander the Great, and his fame made this name popular across Europe. The name belonged to eight popes and several kings.
Talking about variations of the name Alistair, various spellings and pronunciations are present; some are Alister, Allister, Alyster, Alystair, Allystair, Allyster, Alastor, Alasdair, Alastair, Allister. When looking for a nickname, you can use Alis or Ally.
Fictional characters likeAlastairappeared on the CW Television Network in the fourth season of the drama and horror series ‘Supernatural.’ The role was played by actors like Mark Rolston, Andrew Wheeler, and Christopher Heyerdahl.Alastor’ Mad-Eye’ Moodyis the most well-known Auror in the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling, who is blamed for the arrest of several wizard offenders. He is also known to avoid killing his prey unless he has no other option, even when allowed to. The supervillainAlistair Smythefrequently appears in Marvel Comics as the enemy of the superhero Spiderman. AnotherAlistairis a character from the Twilight book and movie series based on American novelist Stephenie Meyer’s fantasy romance books.
How To Pronounce Alistair?
Famous People With The Name Alistair
- Alastair Windsor2日康乐和Strathearn公爵了on of Queen Victoria of England
- Alastair S. RobinsonTaxonomist and field botanist specializing in the carnivorous plant genus Nepenthes, for which he is regarded as a world authority
- Alistair CookeBritish-American writer and journalist, best known as the host of PBS Masterpiece Theatre
- Alistair Stuart MacLeanScottish novelist whose novels have been adapted to film like The Guns of Navarone
- Alistair MacLeodCanadian novelist, short story writer and academic winner of Portia White Award, International Dublin Literary Award
Alistair On The Popularity Chart
The name Alistair has surged in popularity in recent years. Have a look at the graph below.
Popularity Over Time
In the 90’s, the name was not popular but this started changing in the mid 2000s. It saw its highest peak in the year 2016.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name has gradually declined in terms of ranking and stands in the 18442 position in 2021.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Alistair
If you are looking to explore more names that sound like Alistair, here are some suggestions.
Popular Sibling Names For Alistair
Other Popular Names Beginning With A
Names With Similar Meaning As Alistair
If you want a name that means the same as Alistair but sounds different? Take a look at the options listed below.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
alistair
In Sign Language
alistair
In Braille Alphabet
alistair
In Morse Code
alistair
Name Numerology For Alistair
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Alistair?
The name Alistair means ‘defender of men.’
2. What is the origin of the name Alistair?
Alistair has a Scottish Gaelic origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Alistair?
Alistair is pronounced as ah-lis-ter.
4. When was Alistair a popular baby name?
Alistair has only recently entered the top 1000 names in the US. It was most popular in 2016 when 247 babies were given this name and was ranked 883 (1).
5. What are some middle names that go well with Alistair?
Alistair is the Anglicized version of Alisdair which, in turn, comes from Alexander. You can choose middle names from other Anglicized names, such asColin, meaning ‘young dog,’ andFinlay, meaning ‘white, blessed’ and ‘warrior.’ Additionally, you can choose a middle name from the names of kings.Albert,Hadrian, andIvanare good choices in this category. If you want to match the meaning of the middle name to Alistair that means ‘defending men,’ you can choose names likeBertrandandEdward, which are names associated with valor and protection.
6. How does the popularity of the name Alistair vary across different countries or regions?
In the US, the name has recently found popularity. It stood at the 928th position in 2022 and 246 babies were given this name (1). The name is also popular in England and Wales.
References:
- Popularity of name Alistair.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
