Alister is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic word 'Alastair', which means 'defender'. It is considered a variant spelling of Alexander and has been used interchangeably throughout history. The name gained prominence during the Middle Ages when it was associated with several notable figures in Scotland. Today, Alister is still a popular choice among parents seeking a unique yet traditional Scottish name for their child.
The name Alister saw five newborns entering the world in 2018, with no previous occurrences recorded before that year.