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Original poster

Opinions on spelling of Alasdair/Alastair/Alistair

36 replies

MimiDaisy11 · 22/01/2021 09:44

We've pretty much decided on this name if we have a boy. The only downside is the variety of spellings. My usual view with names is that you should go with the most popular spelling. The most popular spelling in Scotland is Alasdair at the moment for babies, however, with this name, it's not popular at the moment (23 babies in 2019 in Scotland) and so between the most popular spelling and the next one down there's only a difference of 3-5 babies.

We're leaning more towards Alasdair at the moment. I do like that it's the original Gaelic spelling but I think within the UK and internationally other spellings might be more recognised.

Any opinions?

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CakeRattleandRoll · 24/01/2021 18:27

Love that name, however you spell it. My favourite is Alasdair. Agree with you that having to spell it out is no big deal. There are lots of popular names that need spelling out, just due to various possibilities.

lilfoxfur · 24/01/2021 15:41

I have a lovely 10 year old Alistair:)

He is Alistair which is the anglicised spelling, as we live in the southeast. I think the welsh spelling is Alastair or that might be Scottish? I think Scotland have Alasdhair too.

He mainly gets called Ali by friends and family although as he gets older I am calling him Al more. I love his name and everyone has always been really positive about it. Plus he's the only one in his school.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 24/01/2021 15:37

I think they are all ok as alternative spellings in their own right rather than made up spellings. My preference would be Alastair

PrivateParty · 24/01/2021 15:32

I'm Scottish and every one I've heard of is Alastair. Didn't realise you got different spellings until recently.

AlexaShutUp · 24/01/2021 12:03

Alistair, but I'm not Scottish.

Original poster
MimiDaisy11 · 24/01/2021 12:00

Thanks for the replies.

OP posts:
Original poster
MimiDaisy11 · 24/01/2021 11:59

Lots of people have to spell out their surnames which he wouldn't have to do, and as I used to have to do. It's really not that much of a burden - lots of things are done online now compared to over the phone.

OP posts:
intheshallows · 24/01/2021 05:11

Alasdair. But so you really want to use a name that your child is going to have to spend his whole life spelling out for everyone? I discounted a name I loved for this very reason- didn't seem fair!

Edenember · 24/01/2021 04:29

I prefer Alasdair, for no good reason really.

partyatthepalace · 23/01/2021 22:44

Alastair. Great name, but outside Scotland the d spelling is obscure. Alistair is the most widely used.

Firebird83 · 23/01/2021 00:48

I like the Alastair spelling best.

ZebraKid71 · 22/01/2021 20:59

I would automatically spell it Alistair , but they are all fine, known spellings and its the kind of name I'd clarify the spelling before writing it down.

ILoveStickers · 22/01/2021 18:53

Love this name! I'd go Alasdair or Alastair personally. But I think PP is right - it's like Katherine, they're all known and recognised.

CornforthWhite · 22/01/2021 18:39

They are all pronounced differently so that’s the biggest clue of what spelling you want as that’s the way you’ll say his name as a family. It’s a lovely name, we have a little Alastair and lots of people compliment his name but often get the spelling wrong. I prefer the ‘t’ but if I was in Scotland perhaps we’d have chosen the ‘d’. Using the ‘I’ sound makes it a totally different name in my mind Smile

painting2014 · 22/01/2021 18:32

We have a 9 year old Alastair.

You will definitely need to spell it for people - have now seen every variant of the spelling!

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 22/01/2021 18:27

My instinct as someone living in England/Wales would be to use the Alistair spelling (I also think this is the most common in other English speaking countries like the US, but I could be wrong), although I prefer the look of the Alastair spelling myself.

Having said all that though, it absolutely makes sense if you live in Scotland to use the original Alasdair spelling; as pp mentioned you unfortunately are likely to have to spell it for people whatever you chose - but it's a lovely name anyway!

FairfaxAikman · 22/01/2021 18:20

@steppemum

I should say that when I say it it sounds like Alister
It only sounds that way to a non-Gaelic speaker.

My name is Gaelic and to a non-Gaelic speaker sounds like a perfectly normal English name that was popular in the 80s and has two common spellings - and while it does sound similar, it's subtly different in pronunciation.

RubyReigns · 22/01/2021 18:14

I have a 5yr old Alastair. We aren’t Scottish or I would have used Alasdair instead.
We pronounce it with an A sound rather than an I sound too.
No one ever spells it correctly though. Even family. Be prepared to have to spell it every time you give his name in the phone etc.

FairfaxAikman · 22/01/2021 18:13

Alasdair is a Gaelic name (English equivalent is Alexander) and thus that spelling is the "correct" one and therefore that's the one I'd go for over the Anglicised spellings.

It was actually op of my list for DS but DH vetoed it.

Peeteea · 22/01/2021 18:03

I’m in Scotland and my favourite of the three is Alasdair, followed by Alastair then Alistair. I run into the first two most often round here- I associate the third more with England as that was the spelling I saw most often when I lived there. Regardless of spelling though, it’s a lovely name!

IsabellaMozzarella · 22/01/2021 16:11

Great name!!! We went with dair as it's the original spelling.

Everyone spells it all manner of ways but I don't mind.

RaspberryCoulis · 22/01/2021 11:55

Alasdair, with a DAIR. ;-)

RaspberryCoulis · 22/01/2021 11:54

I'd always default to Alistair, but the Alastair is fairly common too. There is a very funny Billy Connolly sketch about Crawford, Campbell and Alasdair with a D-A-I-R though.

SciFiScream · 22/01/2021 11:43

I'm Scottish. Love the all, especially with the D. I say them all slightly differently. It's maybe quite hard to hear but there is a subtle difference.

Londonnight · 22/01/2021 10:25

My grandson is Alasdair. I love the name

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