Allister
Boy name · English · Gaelic · Scottish
Meaningdefender of men · Scottish form of Alistair
- US rank
- #2,991
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #2,000 in 2022
41 babies were named Allister in the US in 2025. It has dropped 801 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1925–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Allister you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 41,667 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Allister, 41 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Allister would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryAllister first shows up in US birth records in 1925, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 100 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2022, when it reached #2,000.
- Then vs nowAllister is 3.0× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 123,457 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 41,667.
- TrendAllister has slipped 801 places over the last five years and now sits at #2,991. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningAllister is a Scottish form of Alistair, which means “defender of men”. Our records link it to English, Gaelic and Scottish roots.
About the name Allister
Allister is a boy name of English, Gaelic and Scottish origin meaning “defender of men”. It has 8 letters and 3 syllables, starting with A and ending in “-ter”. US birth records list Allister for boys from 1925 to 2025, in 57 of those 101 years. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked #2,000 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #2,991, with 41 babies.
Origin:English namesGaelic namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 3.8 | 265,957 boys |
| 1950s | 0.2 | 4,166,667 boys |
| 1970s | 4.7 | 214,133 boys |
| 1980s | 4.0 | 249,377 boys |
| 1990s | 5.2 | 192,308 boys |
| 2000s | 8.4 | 118,906 boys |
| 2010s | 24 | 41,894 boys |
| 2020s | 34 | 29,254 boys |
Other spellings of Allister
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 Allister
What does the name Allister mean?
Allister means “defender of men” in Scottish, as a form of Alistair.
What is the origin of the name Allister?
Allister has English, Gaelic, Scottish roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Allister a boy or girl name?
Allister is a boy name.
How popular is the name Allister?
Allister ranked #2,991 for US boys in 2025, given to 41 babies. Its best year was 2022 (#2,000).