McAlister is an uncommon given name of Scottish origin, derived from the surname McAlester, which is believed to have originated from the place name 'Macalester' in Scotland. The name is composed of two elements: 'mac', meaning 'son of', and 'Alester', a personal name likely originating from a Norse-Viking name such as 'Aleister'. McAlister was historically used as both a first name and a surname, but it is now predominantly used as a given name. It gained some popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, with its usage peaking in the 1950s.
"Interesting rarity: The name McAlister was given to only five newborn girls in the year 2008."