Alastair is a boy name with a rare feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Alastair means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Alastair across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Alastair has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Alastair is a boy name of Greek origin meaning “defender of the people”. A Scottish form of Alexander.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 1,364 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 1,625 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 2,359 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 27 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 92 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Alastair per year, England & Wales (1996 to 2025). England & Wales peaked in 1996 (166/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1983 (116/yr) · United States peaked in 2025 (67/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1984 (8/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1998 (8/yr).
Alastair is an uncommon baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2025, when it ranked #4,610 nationally (given to 100 babies that year).
Alistair · Alister · Alastor · Alasdair · Alistar · Alaster · Allistair · Alyster
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