Meaning and Origin of the Name Alasdair

Alasdair is a popular Scottish boy’s name that was first written down in 1928. The name Alasdair is the Gaelic form of the very popular name “Alexander.”

The meaning of Alasdair is “defender of man.” Alasdair is often anglicized as Alistair, but the Scottish Gaelic version has a rich history and popularity, sharing its name with many famous Scots.

Popularity

The popularity of Alasdair has slightly declined since the height of its popularity in the mid-1970s, but nevertheless, this name was ranked as the 175th most popular name in 2017, according to the National Records of Scotland.

People Called Alasdair

Alasdair is the given name of many famous historical and contemporary Scottish musicians, writers, and philosophers.

Alasdair MacLeod was a famous Olympic rower.

Alasdair Gray was a writer famous for his novels, political writing, and contributions to the postmodern literature movement. Alasdair Gray influenced many Scottish writers after him.

Alasdair MacIntyre is an influential Scottish ethics philosopher from Glasgow who revolutionalized moral philosophy in the middle of the 20th century.

Alasdair Roberts is a folk musician. Alasdair Roberts is also currently a member of the famous folk band “The Furrow Collective.”

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish boys’ names.