Alistar

Meaning & origin

Alistar is a modern spelling variant of Alistair, the Scottish form of Alexander. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 2007, and by 2025 it ranked 6,803, with approximately 1 in 142,340 newborns given the name. The name has been on an upward trajectory since 2009, reaching its peak rank in 2024. While not among the most common names, its steady rise suggests growing appeal, possibly due to its distinctive yet familiar sound. Alistar has not yet been recorded in any top states, indicating that its usage is still relatively rare and scattered across the country.

Alistar is a modern spelling variant of Alistair, which itself derives from the Gaelic Alasdair, the Scottish form of Alexander. The name Alexander comes from the Greek Alexandros, from alexo 'to defend' and aner 'man', thus 'defender of men'. This spelling first appeared in U.S. records in 2007 and has seen modest use since, likely influenced by the popularity of similar-sounding names like Alistair and names ending in -ar.