Alistair
From Scottish Gaelic Alasdair, from Norman Alexandre or Latin Alexander, from Ancient Greek Ἀλέξανδρος (Aléxandros), from ἀλέξω (aléxō, “to defend”) + ἀνδρ- (andr-), the…
Every Alistair since 1956 — 4,088 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Alistair
Alistair is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #897 in 2025 with 265 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1956, 4,088 American babies have been named Alistair. Its peak came in 2025, when 265 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Alistair stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Alistair year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 265 | #897 |
| 2024 | 257 | #909 |
| 2023 | 250 | #921 |
| 2022 | 248 | #929 |
| 2021 | 255 | #902 |
| 2020 | 226 | #961 |
| 2019 | 221 | #968 |
| 2018 | 205 | #1,009 |
| 2017 | 225 | #929 |
| 2016 | 247 | #885 |
| 2015 | 198 | #1,023 |
| 2014 | 179 | #1,080 |
| 2013 | 132 | #1,306 |
| 2012 | 126 | #1,346 |
| 2011 | 108 | #1,495 |
| 2010 | 81 | #1,807 |
| 2009 | 90 | #1,718 |
| 2008 | 68 | #2,040 |
| 2007 | 71 | #1,974 |
| 2006 | 53 | #2,349 |
| 2005 | 42 | #2,615 |
| 2004 | 31 | #3,161 |
| 2003 | 23 | #3,735 |
| 2002 | 26 | #3,355 |
| 2001 | 21 | #3,848 |
| 2000 | 24 | #3,425 |
| 1995 | 19 | #3,434 |
| 1990 | 10 | #5,005 |
| 1985 | 14 | #3,219 |
| 1980 | 6 | #5,544 |
| 1975 | 10 | #3,435 |
| 1970 | 5 | #4,743 |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Alistair
- Alistair MacLean Writer · 1922–1987
- Alistair Overeem Martial arts · b. 1980
- Alistair Darling Politician · b. 1953
- Alistair Brownlee Athlete · b. 1988
- Alistair Carmichael Politician · b. 1965
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Alistair mean?
From Scottish Gaelic Alasdair, from Norman Alexandre or Latin Alexander, from Ancient Greek Ἀλέξανδρος (Aléxandros), from ἀλέξω (aléxō, “to defend”) + ἀνδρ- (andr-), the stem of ἀνήρ (anḗr, “man”).
How popular is the name Alistair in 2025?
Alistair ranked #897 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 265 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Alistair?
4,088 babies have been named Alistair in the United States since 1956, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Alistair most popular?
Alistair peaked in 2025, when 265 newborns received the name.
Is Alistair a boy or girl name?
Alistair is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Alistair rising or falling?
Alistair is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Alistair?
Well-known people named Alistair include Alistair MacLean (writer), Alistair Overeem (martial arts), Alistair Darling (politician).