Alistair is a distinctive choice, ranked #517 in 2025. Your child is likely to be the only Alistair in their class.
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UK Rank 2025
#517
US Rank #897
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About the Name Alistair
Alistair has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 81 places in five years. It was most popular in 1996 at #133 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Alistair is uncommon in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Alistair in their class.
In the US it sits at #905 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
⭐ Famous People Named Alistair
Alistair Appleton — Alistair Appleton is an English broadcaster, psychotherapist and meditation teacher.
Alistair Alcock — Alistair Alcock is a New Zealand cricketer.
Alistair Guss — Alistair Guss is an Australian alpine skier.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Alistair
Unlikely. With around 75 UK babies named Alistair per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Alistair in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Alistair has been fairly steady, ranked #517 in 2025 against #464 in 2020. Its best recorded position was #133 in 1996.
Alistair is more popular in the UK (#545) than in the US (#905). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Alistair include: Alistair Appleton, Alistair Alcock and Alistair Guss. Short summaries for each appear below.
Alistair ranks #905 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
75
UK babies named Alistair (2025)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 53 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Alistair
Almost certainly the only Alistair in the class
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UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Alistair
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Alistair Murray Moffat is a Scottish writer and journalist, former director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and former Rector of the University of St Andrews.
Alistair Maclean Darling, Baron Darling of Roulanish, was a British politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer under prime minister Gordon Brown from 2007 to 2010.