Given name & surname
Allister
“helper and defender of mankind”
Allister is a variant of Alastair. In Scottish use, Alastair carries the interpretation “helper and defender of mankind.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Allister is a variant of Alastair. In Scottish use, Alastair carries the interpretation “helper and defender of mankind.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Allister comes from Scottish Gaelic, and ultimately from Scottish Gaelic.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1925. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Allister through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,256
- 1,250 boys · 6 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 76 babies
- 2025
- 41
- #2,995 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −1%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 41 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,995 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 0.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,080 as a first name in 2020; 112 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Allister’s family of names
Allister has a related form in Alastair. In English usage, Allister has a related form in Alister.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Allister
- Ali CarterEnglish snooker playerborn 1979
- Allister Brimblevideo game music composerborn 1970
- Allister CoetzeeSouth African rugby union coachborn 1963
- Allister HeathBritish business journalist, author and commentatorborn 1978
- Allister SparksSouth African journalist (1933-2016)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Allister, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Alaster
“helper and defender of mankind”
>99% boys
Alastor
“helper and defender of mankind”
>99% boys
Allistair
“helper and defender of mankind”
>99% boys
Alistair
“helper and defender of mankind”
>99% boys
Gallagher
“an eager helper”
>99% boys
Lawler
“a soft-spoken man; one who mutters”
>99% boys
Ewen
“the little swift one”
>99% boys
Rafferty
“a prosperous lady; wealthy” · “one who wields prosperity”
>99% boys