Choosing which spelling of a name

[Ponderingboysnames]

We think we want to go with Alasdair/ Alastair. We only know a couple of people with the name, all the first spelling and of a variety of ages, and it seems to be unusual but not unheard of. I do wonder whether it’s too uncommon though.

Which spelling do you prefer and do you like it? Is it too unusual?

I love Alasdair. All spellings are great, but I have a mild preference for the D. Not sure why.

I've only personally seen it as Alistair.

Sorry, Alastair!

I like Alistair tbh (I know it's not one of your options!)

I’ve only ever seen it as Alastair, never seen the other spelling.

To me, Alasdair is Scottish and Alastair is English.

I've always thought Alaisdar a typo up along the line

I love the name but can't use it.
Either of the spellings you quoted is great.

My 2 year old is Alasdair so I’m biased towards that spelling. I really like the name but whatever you choose you’ll get people spelling it with the variety of spellings you get, which i was prepared for but it’d annoy some people.

In the year before my son was born Alasdair was the most popular spelling in Scotland but I imagine if you’re in another country the spelling with the T will be better known.

Including my own 🤭

Surely it is Alistair or Alasdair. You're mixing up the english and gaelic spellings.

i know one Alistair (English with very, very distant Scottish roots) and one Alasdair (much more recent Scottish roots).

I'm in Scotland and know only Alasdairs.
It's a lovely name!

Nonsense! Plenty of non-Gaelic speakers use Alastair, Alasdair, even Alasdhair.

Alistair is the only spelling of people I’ve met.
Alasdair makes me say ‘Alice-dare’ whereas Alistair I say ‘allas-tuh’ (which doesn’t make sense with the spelling I know).

In any case they’re all Ali, and it’s really nice fresh name!

I live in Scotland so it's not at all unusual to me and I know loads of both. I have a slight preference for the d spelling cause that's the more Scottish one but both are good.

But the version with the t should be Alistair.

I’m not a fan of the name but they different pronunciation. I prefer Alistair.

Do you have a t or d in your last name? If so that might help you to choose so you have the same letters in first and last name. Alastair Scott looks best and ditto Alasdair Donald.

Alistair

It’s how it’s pronounced and it’s the most popular (outside of Scotland anyway)

I think people will get it wrong regardless (in more ways than those two spellings), so if you're set on the name then just pick your favourite spelling. Personally, I think Alasdair is nicer.

I used to lurk on an American mums' forum where they were obsessed with the name Alasdair and the idea of getting the nickname "Dare" out of it, which is obviously so contrived given the different pronunciation.... Just a random memory bubbling up thanks to this thread!

My son is an Alastair. We have always really loved it, since choosing it before he was born.
We are English, for context.

I'm in Scotland so it's usually Alasdair up here.

There's not a huge difference in pronunciation, but with the d is a little bit softer. Visually I prefer it over the "stair" in Alastair / Alistair.

Lovely name but I am biased as it was my grandads name (usually known as Ally or Al)

I have a distant cousin named this but have no idea how he spells it because he’s always Ali !
I think that Alasdair has it slightly over Alistair, though my spell check seems to prefer the latter spelling.
A nice “manly” name and not too common.

As others have said, Alasdair is the standard Scotish /Gaelic spelling. But there are so many other versions that I don't think most people will mind too much which you choose. It all depends on how authentic you want to be.

Both are handsome.
Alistair 10/10
Alasdair 9/10