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Alasdair as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Alasdair

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The baby name Alasdair is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced AL-uhs-dair (IPA: /ˈæləsdɛər/); sometimes AL-uhz-dair.

Alasdair is Scottish Gaelic in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Scottish Gaelic
Pronunciation: AL-uhs-dair (IPA: /ˈæləsdɛər/); sometimes AL-uhz-dair

What is the meaning of the name Alasdair ?

The baby name Alasdair is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced AL-uhs-dair (IPA: /ˈæləsdɛər/); sometimes AL-uhz-dair.

Alasdair is Scottish Gaelic in Origin.

Alasdair is the Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander, from Greek Alexandros, built from alexein meaning to defend and andros meaning man, yielding the meaning defender of men or protector of mankind. Long rooted in the Highlands and Islands, it preserves a distinct Gaelic identity while linking to the wider European tradition shaped by Alexander the Great and numerous medieval saints and rulers.

Usage spans clan leadership and literature; a noted bearer is the 18th-century Gaelic poet Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair. In modern times, the name appears with philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre and novelist Alasdair Gray. Anglicized and variant spellings include Alistair, Alastair, Alister, and Alaster; the Irish Gaelic cognate is Alastar. Related international forms are Alexander, Alexandre, Alessandro, and Iskander. Common short forms are Al, Ally, and Sandy, giving this traditional name both formal gravitas and friendly everyday options.

Alasdair has the following similar or variant Names

Celebrity babies named Alasdair

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Alasdair Gill Amber Rudd journalist A. A. Gill journalist

Alasdair – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2022 #1 794
SG 0 #282 1 11,010
Canada Boys 2024 #299 8 2,588
JP Boys 0 #303 1 7,909
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
MY 0 #354 1 12,352
HK 0 #356 2 8,483
MU Boys 0 #369 1 8,477
PT Boys 0 #381 1 7,951
PH Boys 0 #408 1 11,440
EG 0 #412 1 6,387
ZA 0 #474 1 14,421
CR Boys 0 #510 1 10,188
HK Boys 0 #553 5 12,905
LY 0 #559 1 12,703
BH 0 #587 1 17,937
SG Boys 0 #733 7 17,960
QA Boys 0 #743 1 18,093
KW Boys 0 #805 2 18,755
United States Boys 2024 #863 30 7,044
EG Boys 0 #925 1 15,035
PE Boys 0 #925 2 14,506
SA Girls 0 #1,014 1 25,931
AE Boys 0 #1,141 3 22,615
ZA Boys 0 #1,157 22 25,619
MY Boys 0 #1,181 2 25,439
TR 0 #1,254 1 19,440
SA Boys 0 #1,690 2 28,008

Alasdair is popular in 21 countries — most recent births per country:

Scotland, United Kingdom
United States
Canada
Ireland
AE

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People also ask about Alasdair

Alasdair is predominantly a boy's name.
Alasdair is a 3 syllable name, pronounced AL-uhs-dair (IPA: /ˈæləsdɛər/); sometimes AL-uhz-dair.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Alastair, Alistair, Alister, Alisdair, Allister and Allistair.
Across languages, Alasdair has these equivalents: Alexander (English), Alejandro (Spanish), Alexandre (French), Alessandro (Italian), Alexandros (Greek), and 3 more.
Yes, very popular — Alasdair ranked #1 in Ireland in 2022, and appears in official birth registries across 4 countries.
Alasdair ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2022).
Alasdair's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #863 in 2014 to #863 in 2024 in United States.
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Alasdair for their child, including Amber Rudd and A. A. Gill.