Alastair

Meaning of Alastair

Alastair is the tartan-draped cousin of classic Alexander: a Scottish Gaelic charmer (think highland mist and the skirl of bagpipes) whose roots reach back to the Greek “Alexandros,” meaning “defender of mankind.” Over the centuries the name has been carried by clan chiefs, novelists like adventure-master Alastair MacLean, and even the occasional British royal insider, giving it a quietly aristocratic polish without feeling stuffy. In the U.S. it’s never cracked the Top 500, which means your little Alastair will stand out in a classroom of Liams and Williams while still owning an easy, friendly nickname—Al, Ally, or the jaunty Stair. Sophisticated yet approachable, historical yet fresh, Alastair offers parents the best of both worlds: a heroic meaning and a dash of Celtic romance wrapped up in a pronunciation as smooth as a sip of fine Scotch.