Alistair or Alasdair?

[LittleFilly]

We have settled on a name for our baby son but can't decide on the best spelling.

Would you opt for Alistair or Alasdair? And how would you pronounce your choice?

For context, we live in the US but are British-Australian. We have a one syllable Scottish last name.

Kind comments only please. I delivered very recently and am incredibly tired!

Thanks everyone.

I love Alasdair. If you have even the most tenuous Scottish link, I would go with that! Everyone will just say Al-is-ter though, whichever ever spelling you go for.

I have a slight preference for Alasdair, but that might be the dyslexic in me who looks at Alistair and splits it Ali-stair.

I know an Alisdair

Alistair. Pronounced allister.

Alastair

Yup. The other. Alastair.

Congratulations on the new arrival. I’d go for Alasdair. I’d pronounce it much the same as Alistair but maybe a bit softer on the t. Good Scottish name either way.

Alasdair
Although I pronounce them the same.
I think I go with that spelling though cos it's the one I've known and grown up with so actually it's the most familiar to me as a member of my family is called it

I had Alastair on my baby list.

Congrats on your baby!

Alasdair is lovely

I don’t have a strong opinion on spelling but I’m Scottish and have known quite a few of both spellings - I pronounce both the same with a strange sound in the middle that is a bit of a cross between a ‘t’ and a ‘d’! Difficult to describe! Most of them have gone by Ally as adults.

I'm Scottish and much prefer Alistair.

Neither, I would spell it Alisdair then it can still be shortened to Ali

I much prefer Alasdair. I think that’s the more traditional Scottish spelling. I’m Scottish and know many people with different versions of the spelling but it’s always pronounced the same - like someone said above sort of like somewhere between t and d. It’s hard to explain!

Love the name, it was almost my son's middle name. I'm Scottish and would definitely use the Alasdair spelling.

My son is Alister. Wanted a traditional spelling for his Scottish surname but hubby kept forgetting how to spell it!

Alastair or Alister for me. I'm not a fan of the D. To be honest though, any of them are good. It's a great name, enjoy your new baby.

I'm Scottish and pronounce both the same

Slight preference for Alasdair.

Alistair. Avoids the word 'Alas' at the start of the name.

T. I love this name.

Scottish and love Alistair.

cos that was the name of this boy I fancied when I was 13

Alistair - all the ones I know spell it like that so it's my default version! I'd pronounce them the same however it's spelt although they mostly go by Al or Ali!

Alastair or Alister for me

Alister looks and sounds like A-lister

Alasdair definitely— looks better and encourages the subtle difference in pronunciation.
Congratulations and I hope you and yours have a lovely time bonding and enjoying the deliciousness of you new son.

I'm biased as I have a one-year-old called Alasdair. It's one of those names that you just have to be prepared for people spelling it wrong. I can't blame them as there are quite a few different spellings and people are used to a specific one. I think whatever the spelling people just tend to pronounce the names the same. Again that doesn't bother me. I looked up lots of Gaelic speakers pronouncing it and to my ears the difference is quite subtle.