Alister
Meaningdefender of men · Scottish form of Alexander
- US rank
- #1,688
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #1,330 in 2022
97 babies were named Alister in the US in 2025. It has dropped 132 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1924–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Alister you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 17,606 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Alister, 97 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Alister would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryAlister first shows up in US birth records in 1924, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 101 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2022, when it reached #1,330.
- Then vs nowAlister is 18× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 322,581 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 17,606.
- TrendAlister has slipped 132 places over the last five years and now sits at #1,688. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedAlister is most popular in Indiana, where it ranks #949. It's in the top 1,000 in 1 state.
- MeaningAlister is a Scottish form of Alexander, which means “defender of men”. Our records link it to English and Scottish roots.
About the name Alister
Alister is a boy name of English and Scottish origin meaning “defender of men”. It has 7 letters and 3 syllables, starting with A and ending in “-ter”. US birth records list Alister for boys from 1924 to 2025, in 42 of those 102 years. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked #1,330 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #1,688, with 97 babies.
Origin:English namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 0.7 | 1,363,636 boys |
| 1980s | 2.5 | 392,157 boys |
| 1990s | 3.3 | 301,205 boys |
| 2000s | 8.5 | 118,203 boys |
| 2010s | 39 | 25,432 boys |
| 2020s | 61 | 16,300 boys |
Other spellings of Alister
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Alister
What does the name Alister mean?
Alister means “defender of men” in Scottish, as a form of Alexander.
What is the origin of the name Alister?
Alister has English, Scottish roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Alister a boy or girl name?
Alister is a boy name.
How popular is the name Alister?
Alister ranked #1,688 for US boys in 2025, given to 97 babies. Its best year was 2022 (#1,330).