UK boy's name
Allistair
A masculine Scottish name derived from the Gaelic elements "ail" and "isdar", possibly meaning "man's defender" or "defending man".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1997. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Allistair is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Allistair popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1997 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2859, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1997 to 1997. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Allistair is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Allistair. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 1998 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Allistair ranked #2859 for boys in England and Wales in 1997, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 3 boys were registered as Allistair.
- • Allistair ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #378 in 1993.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Allistair as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2859
1997
Births in 1997
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Allistair mean?
The name Allistair originated from the Scottish Gaelic name Alasdair, which is derived from the Greek name Alexandros. The name Alexandros is composed of the elements "alexo" meaning "to defend" and "andros" meaning "man". Alasdair is the Scottish Gaelic form of the name, which was later anglicized to Allistair.
The earliest recorded use of the name Allistair can be traced back to the late Middle Ages in Scotland. It gained popularity among Scottish clans and noble families, particularly in the Highlands and Islands regions. The name was often associated with strength, bravery, and leadership.
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Allistair was Allistair Og MacDonald, who lived in the 14th century and was a prominent chief of the Clan Donald. Another historical figure was Allistair MacColla, a famous Scottish military commander who fought in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms during the 17th century.
In the realm of literature, the name Allistair was immortalized in the works of Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott. One of his most famous characters, Allistair McIvor, appeared in the novel "Waverley" published in 1814. This contributed to the name's popularity in the 19th century.
During the 20th century, several notable individuals bore the name Allistair. One was Allistair Cooke, a renowned British-American journalist and broadcaster who hosted the long-running television series "Masterpiece Theatre" from 1966 to 1992. Another was Allistair MacLean, a Scottish novelist known for his popular thriller and adventure stories, including "The Guns of Navarone" and "Ice Station Zebra".
In the realm of sports, Allistair Brownlee is a British triathlete who won gold medals in the triathlon event at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. Allistair Overeem is a Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer who has competed in various promotions, including the UFC and PRIDE Fighting Championships.
While the name Allistair has Scottish origins, it has gained popularity in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. However, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Greek name Alexandros, which has influenced the development of many modern names across different cultures and languages.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Allistair by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Allistair was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #2859 | 3 | 1 |
Geography
Where Allistair is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Allistair. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Allistair ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #378 in 1993.
Across the UK
Allistair in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#378 in 1993
2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered
Related
Names similar to Allistair
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Allistair: questions and answers
How popular is the name Allistair in the UK right now?
In 1997, Allistair was ranked #2859 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Allistair most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 3 babies registered as Allistair in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Allistair?
A masculine Scottish name derived from the Gaelic elements "ail" and "isdar", possibly meaning "man's defender" or "defending man".
How many people are called Allistair in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Allistair across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.
Where is Allistair most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Allistair ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #378 in 1993. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.