Alasdair? Alastair?

[FartnissEverbeans]

Hi everyone, I’m currently pregnant with a boy.

I thought we had finally decided on a name but I suggested the above to DH and he loves it, especially with the nickname Ally/Ali.

For context, we’re Scottish but don’t live in Scotland.

My concerns are that it’s a bit boring (I’ve known quite a few) - I like more unusual names and this might not ‘go’ very well with his sibling’s name - and that it’s a bit middle-aged?

The other option is to use the more unusual (but not unheard of) name in the first place position with Alasdair/Alastair as the middle name, then use Ali/Ally as a nickname. This might work because there aren’t really any good nicknames for the more unusual name we liked, but I worry it’s just over complicating things.

Thanks!

الاسدير

I like this name very much and don't think of it as date - it's always been a bit unusual outside Scotland, so I don't associate it very strongly with any one time. I personally prefer the spelling Alistair, and that's closer to how I usually hear it pronounced, but I think of Alastair as more traditionally Scottish, as DH has Scottish relatives and there are quite a few Alastairs in one branch of the family. If you have Scottish roots, maybe Alastair would be more appropriate for you.

It's a great name as is Ali/Ally. The spelling is entirely personal preference.

Also I think all longer makes come with an element of having to spell it to people. Dd has a really classic longer name and people still spell both the main and nick name wrongly

Alister?

I'm from Scotland but live away. I only ever knew boys at school who spelled it Alistair (and all known as Ali) so anything else looks weird to me - I actually thought the one with 'd' in it was more English! Great name, go for it, you just have to decide if you'll be annoyed with the more English pronunciation of really extending the final syllable.

I like Alasdair a lot. I’m Scottish and live here and have always preferred the d to a t, it’s softer in a Scottish accent where t is either quite a strong sound or dropped entirely.

It is a Scottish Gaelic name (English equivalent is Alexander) and the original spelling is Alasdair.

Whatever way you spell it you will always have to correct people so go with your own preference.

@FartnissEverbeans

Thanks everyone!

With regards to spellings - he’ll be living in an Arabic country so he’ll have to spell his name out every time anyway! There’s no avoiding that I think. Alasdair is the original Gaelic spelling but it’s also kind of ‘posh’, IMO - which is ridiculous really when I say it but my family are very un-posh!

Is it an issue that he would be Ali G?!

Only if the G is for Green and he feels pulled towards the clergy in later years.

(He might opt for Al when he gets older)

It's a great name.

He might opt for Al when he gets older

I don't think I've ever met just an Al, only ever Big Al, and I've met at least 2 Big Als

@Lockdownbear

He might opt for Al when he gets older

I don't think I've ever met just an Al, only ever Big Al, and I've met at least 2 Big Als

Our Big Al is 5'4"

Alasdair is the Gaelic original, and as a west coast Scot that's what I would expect as a spelling. I live in Edinburgh now and our wee bit is Alasdair, but I've seen lots of different spellings. Don't think it is dated but I may be biased.

Alasdair is my preference because I'm a Gaelic speaker and it looks and sounds nicer IMO. I think it's classic rather than dated. See also Robert, Iain, Hugh, Duncan etc.

Gaelic names are becoming more common for boys I think. Uisdean, Cailean, Seoras are all lovely.

My father was an Alasdair ( family from Aberdeen.) I think it's a wonderful name.

I have a 3 year old Alasdair. No Scottish links, but liked the softer spelling/sound. We call him by his full name, but he gets called Ally at nursery. Or occasionally Ally Pally at home… We chose it as uncommon (where we are in London) but classic rather than weird. I never thought it was posh

One of my DGC is Alastair, as a nod to Scottish roots, as well as liking the name. They chose the more well known spelling, as they live abroad.

Can I ask how you are all pronouncing it?

We know an Alastair who pronounces it with an emphasis on the final syllable (AlaSTAIR) and another one with emphasis on the first syllable and the final syllable sort of disappears (ALastah). We're not in the UK so interested in what is the more traditional pronunciation?

@Jamnotjelly

Can I ask how you are all pronouncing it?

We know an Alastair who pronounces it with an emphasis on the final syllable (AlaSTAIR) and another one with emphasis on the first syllable and the final syllable sort of disappears (ALastah). We're not in the UK so interested in what is the more traditional pronunciation?

Oh no please not the stress on the final syllable! That sounds so poncy. Like in the Archers, that whiny woman always going on about her husband alasDARE…

But Alasdah isn’t right, either. You need the R.

PS I am Scottish.

Perfectly OK.

Perhaps Alexander is a bit more international though?

In my Scottish accent when speaking lazily it just runs together as a sort of Alsder.

I love it, one of my favourite names! Love the Alasdair spelling especially.

I love it though probably prefer the Alastair spelling (but I'm English/Welsh not Scottish and didn't know the original was with a d).
It's a great classic name.
I pronounce it with a similar emphasis on the first and third syllables and a very short second syllable.
I don't think Ali G matters because hopefully he'll either be Ali (if he wants that nn) or Ali Wholesurname if there's more than one in the class.