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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Immediate thoughts - Alastair?

59 replies

hulahoopqueen · 04/03/2022 09:29

DH and I like the name Alastair for upcoming DS.
Are there any drawbacks we might have overlooked?
I haven't heard the name around our area very much - for context, older DS has a "regal" name so I think it would fit well.
What are your immediate thoughts on the name?

OP posts:
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Hohoholymoley · 04/03/2022 09:30

I like it. Classic but not common.

Ofcourseinamechangedforthisyou · 04/03/2022 09:30

You're going to have spelling issues

Alastair
Alistair
Alasdair

But other than that it's a great name

babyboybluewithnumbertwox · 04/03/2022 09:57

My partner is Alistair and never gets called it, he's always Ally/Ali but it is a lovely name!

MysteriousMonkey · 04/03/2022 10:11

I'm not keen on the name but the two Alistairs I have known irl have both been lovely Grin

LadyDanburysHat · 04/03/2022 10:14

Very traditionally Scottish. It will be spelled incorrectly a lot. I prefer the Alistair spelling.

jusdepamplemousse · 04/03/2022 10:16

Lovely name.

SatinHeart · 04/03/2022 10:18

I like it but like pp I immediately thought 'spelling issues'

Frazzled2207 · 04/03/2022 10:19

Like it but tricky spelling wise

Most common would be Alasdair I think

Echobelly · 04/03/2022 10:20

I like it a lot

Teaandcrumpets95 · 04/03/2022 10:20

Personally I prefer the spelling Alistair.

But it's a gorgeous name!

NoddingTulip · 04/03/2022 10:25

Love it. The ones I've known have all been really nice too. Also love the shortening of Ally.

oneredeemingfeature · 04/03/2022 10:26

We chose it for our ds. Love it and he's the only one of his age group we know. He couldn't be anything else!

OrangeAndYellowAndBlue · 04/03/2022 11:40

I really like it. Yes, there are several different spellings, but it's no worse than Catherine or Isabelle that way. All the spellings are traditional, if you see what I mean.

evilharpy · 04/03/2022 11:46

I associate names with people I know that are called that name. I've known a few Alastairs and have never ever met one who wasn't lovely. Consequently I love the name.

Also never met one that wasn't called Ali or Al, if that's a consideration.

Much prefer Alastair to Alasdair.

MarshMarigold22 · 04/03/2022 11:47

One of my favourite people is called Alastair, but usually goes by Al. DS1 still thinks he's called Owl.

It's a great name, I really like it.

Vasectomyreversalhopeful · 04/03/2022 12:34

It is my DS’ name so I am biased but I love it. Only downside is the number of people who spell it Alistair. This includes close family members (grandparents, aunts/uncles), official groups such as Beavers even though we filled out the forms with the correct spelling and even the school nursing service! Even when I put a post on fb where I spell it correctly people will comment and spell it Alistair.

hulahoopqueen · 04/03/2022 12:47

Thank you for the lovely feedback! I'm glad I'm not in a minority for liking the name :)
I'm not at all opposed to Al or Ali as a nickname, I'd go for Al preferably but that's good to know.
I'd prefer the spelling of Alastair (which I think suggests our/my preferred pronunciation of Alaster rather than Alas-dare).

OP posts:
Ginandplatonic · 04/03/2022 12:50

Love it! I’ve got one. I call him Ally, but mostly he just gets Alastair from everyone else.

BillyBilly · 04/03/2022 14:43

Yes. Excellent name.

IsadoraQuagmire · 04/03/2022 15:20

My immediate thought was Al (character AND actor's real name is Alastair) from Stath Lets Flats (a favourite comedy show of mine!) But it's a great name, only possible issue is all the alternative spellings as PP have said.
Nice name for both a small child and an adult.

MrsBungle · 04/03/2022 15:22

Lovely.

PlanetNormal · 04/03/2022 15:46

Proper, classic, masculine name. It’s a yes from me.

midsomermurderess · 04/03/2022 15:55

I really like it. The different spellings are much of a muchness. Here in Scotland, I don't think anyone would give it a second thought. Might it be a bit more unusual in England?

ThatsNotMyGolem · 04/03/2022 17:11

Makes me think of the newsreader Alastair Stewart, who used to present Police! Camera! Action! until he was done for drunk driving.

scottishnames · 04/03/2022 17:23

Nice name.
If it matters, the correct Gaelic spelling is Alasdair. (As you will know, it's the Gaelic version of Alexander.)
I know several, mostly with nicknames Ally/Ali or Alla.