Allister

Allister is a masculine given name and, less commonly, a surname. It appears in English-speaking countries and among the Scottish diaspora, where Gaelic naming traditions have influenced spelling and usage.

Etymology and meaning: The name Allister derives from the Gaelic Alasdair, the Scottish form of Alexander, which itself comes from the Greek name Alexandros meaning “defender of men.” Allister is one of several Anglicized variants of Alasdair, reflecting regional and familial spelling preferences.

Variants and spelling: Variants include Alasdair, Alistair, Alistar, Allistair, and Allister. Spelling often signals cultural or regional origins, with Alasdair more common in Scotland and Allister/Alistair widely found across the English-speaking world.

Usage and distribution: Today the name is primarily used as a given name in Scotland and other Gaelic-influenced communities, but it has been adopted broadly in the English-speaking world. As a surname, its occurrence is relatively rare compared with its given-name use.

Notable bearers: Notable individuals with the given name include the rugby coach Allister Coetzee. The name also appears in fiction and popular culture, where it is used in various forms and spellings.

See also: For related forms, see Alasdair and Alistair, as well as the broader lineage of the name Alexander. The variants reflect a shared linguistic heritage linking them to the same root meaning.