Aleister
2025 SSA
About Aleister
Aleister is a masculine name of Scottish origin, representing a variant spelling of Alistair or Alastair, which themselves derive from Alexander. The name ultimately comes from Greek elements meaning 'defender of mankind.' This particular spelling was popularized by the notorious British occultist Aleister Crowley (1875-1947), giving the name strong associations with mysticism and the esoteric. Despite this controversial connection, the name has a distinguished sound and maintains its Scottish heritage appeal. Aleister has never been extremely common but has attracted parents seeking a name with both traditional roots and an unconventional edge. It carries a somewhat mysterious, intellectual quality while maintaining its classic masculine strength.
Pronounced uh-LIS-ter.
As of October 2026, Aleister ranked #2943 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #2043 in 2020.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #3,900 | 26 | 13.5 |
| 2015 | #3,779 | 28 | 14.6 |
| 2016 | #4,203 | 24 | 12.6 |
| 2017 | #3,315 | 34 | 18.4 |
| 2018 | #2,676 | 46 | 25.3 |
| 2019 | #2,264 | 61 | 34 |
| 2020 | #2,043 | 69 | 40 |
| 2021 | #2,728 | 46 | 26.3 |
| 2022 | #2,716 | 48 | 27.5 |
| 2023 | #2,845 | 44 | 25.7 |
| 2024 | #3,321 | 35 | 20.3 |
| 2025 | #2,943 | 42 | 24.6 |
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Aleister.