Alastair Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Alastair originates from Scottish Gaelic and is a form of Alexander, which means 'defender of man' in Greek. It has evolved through several languages, including Italian and Spanish, maintaining its meaning throughout. The name is historically associated with notable figures and has gained popularity in Scotland since the Middle Ages. Alastair is viewed as a strong and classic name today, with several variants and a connection to Scottish culture.
The name Alastair is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Alastair has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Alastair' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6687th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6350th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 6502nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 5194th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3488th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3961st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2594th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Alastair' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Alastair"
Pronunciation
/ˈæl.ə.stɛr/
Origin
Scottish Gaelic
Etymology
The name Alastair is derived from the Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander, which itself comes from the Greek name Alexandros. The Greek name is composed of the elements 'alexein,' meaning 'to defend,' and 'aner,' meaning 'man.'
Meaning
Defender of man
Language Evolution
Alexandros (Greek), Alessandro (Italian), Alejandro (Spanish), Alistair (Scottish Gaelic)
Historical Usage
Alastair gained popularity in Scotland during the Middle Ages, particularly due to the influence of the historical figure Alexander the Great and later Scottish rulers named Alexander.
Variants & Derivatives
Alastair, Alasdair, Alistair, Alex, Sandy
Modern Popularity & Image
Alastair is perceived as a classic and strong name, often associated with Scottish heritage. It is well-regarded in various English-speaking countries.
Famous People
Alastair Campbell (British political aide), Alastair Cook (English cricketer), Alastair Sim (Scottish actor)
📊 Alastair Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Alastair Name Visualizations
✨ Alastair Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 62 peak births in 2019
Geographic Spread
Popular across 9 US states, with strongest presence in California
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 7 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Alastair"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Alastair"
"Alastair" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 6687th of 7545 | 10 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 6350th of 6773 | 7 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 6502nd of 7552 | 11 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 5194th of 10718 | 61 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3488th of 16616 | 247 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3961st of 24088 | 362 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2594th of 23106 | 599 |
Regional Popularity of "Alastair" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
68.67% 5022nd/7313 |
44.87% 3349th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
65.76% 2620th/3984 |
83.98% 3768th/4487 |
55.69% 3799th/6822 |
36.28% 2277th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Alastair" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Alastair"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Alastair" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.