Alistar
Scottish masculine name possibly derived from the Gaelic "aillse" meaning "sight".
Name Census estimates that about 165 living Americans carry the first name Alistar. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Alistar today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Alistar births was 2024 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Alistar. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Alistar with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
165
~ 1 in 2,077,299 Americans
Peak year
2024
18 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,233
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Alistar: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Alistar from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 93 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Alistar remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Alistar by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Alistar during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Alistar
The name Alistar has its origins in the ancient Gaelic language, which was spoken by the Celtic people in Scotland and parts of Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic words "ail" meaning "rock" or "cliff" and "siar" meaning "west" or "westward". Together, the name can be interpreted as "western rock" or "rock of the west".
In the early Middle Ages, the name Alistar was primarily used by Scottish clans and families residing in the western regions of Scotland, particularly the Hebrides Islands and the highlands. It was a popular choice among the warrior clans who lived in the rugged, mountainous terrain, as it reflected the strength and resilience associated with their lands.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alistar can be found in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient Irish chronicle that dates back to the 15th century. It mentions an "Alistar of Argyll", a Scottish nobleman who played a role in the power struggles between the clans in the western Scottish isles.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Alistar. One of the most famous was Alistar MacLeod (1516-1578), a Scottish warrior and chief of the Clan MacLeod, who was renowned for his bravery and leadership during the clan battles of the 16th century.
Another prominent Alistar was Alistar MacDonald (1598-1647), a Scottish military commander who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. He is remembered for his valiant defense of the Isle of Islay against the Parliamentarian forces.
In the realm of literature, Alistar Mackie (1837-1909) was a Scottish poet and author who wrote extensively about the landscapes and legends of the Scottish Highlands. His works, such as "The Lays of the Heather" and "The Hills of Home", captured the spirit and traditions of his ancestral homeland.
Alistar Mackay (1892-1967) was a Scottish scientist and inventor who made significant contributions to the field of radio communication. He is credited with developing the first practical radio direction finder, which revolutionized navigation and played a crucial role during World War II.
Alistar MacLean (1922-1987) was a renowned British novelist and screenwriter, best known for his popular thriller and adventure novels, including "The Guns of Navarone" and "Where Eagles Dare". His works were adapted into successful films and have captivated audiences worldwide.
People
Alistar + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Alistar as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Alistar: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Alistar?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 165 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Alistar going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,077,299 US residents.
Is Alistar a common name?
We classify Alistar as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 166 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Alistar most popular?
The single biggest year for Alistar was 2024, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Alistar is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Alistar in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Alistar a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Alistar in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Alistar still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Alistar in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Alistar can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Alistar?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.