Alastair

Alastair is a Scottish form in the Alexander family, closely related to Gaelic Alasdair. Its meaning comes from the Greek elements behind Alexander, usually rendered as defender of the people. The Scottish form has developed its own sound and spelling history, while retaining that link to one of the most widely traveled classical names.

Alasdair shows the Gaelic form more directly, and Alistair is another established spelling familiar in English. Alastair can honor an Alexander without repeating the exact name, or reflect a family's Scottish connections. Its history combines a local linguistic identity with the much broader Alexander tradition, rather than deriving from an unrelated Scottish word that happens to sound similar.