Alistair Whelan

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Alistair Whelan — defender of men
280K People worldwide
United Kingdom Most common in
1975s Peak popularity
Gender
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Alistair Whelan is a name that combines Greek origins. The first name Alistair is a masculine given name of Greek origin. Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander (Greek Alexandros: defender of men). Common throughout the Scottish Highlands. The surname Whelan: The family name Whelan is an anglicisation of the Irish surname Ó Faoláin. The surname originates from the Middle Irish Úa Faeláin (plural Uí Faeláin) the name of the 10th to 11th century ruling dynasty of the Déisi, a population group inhabiting the area of the modern counties of Waterford and Kilkenny in the Early Middle Ages. The word faolán is derived from the Old Irish word faelán meaning a young (small) wolf; -án being of the diminutive suffix in Irish. Ó (anglicised as O') derives from the Old Irish úa, meaning "grandson", or more figuratively "patrilineal descendant". Alistair is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 280K people globally, with the highest concentration in United Kingdom. The name Alistair reached peak popularity in the 1975s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Alistair

Meaning: defender of men

Greek

Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander (Greek Alexandros: defender of men). Common throughout the Scottish Highlands.

Surname: Whelan

Celtic

The family name Whelan is an anglicisation of the Irish surname Ó Faoláin. The surname originates from the Middle Irish Úa Faeláin (plural Uí Faeláin) the name of the 10th to 11th century ruling dynasty of the Déisi, a population group inhabiting the area of the modern counties of Waterford and Kilkenny in the Early Middle Ages. The word faolán is derived from the Old Irish word faelán meaning a young (small) wolf; -án being of the diminutive suffix in Irish. Ó (anglicised as O') derives from the Old Irish úa, meaning "grandson", or more figuratively "patrilineal descendant".

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Geographic Distribution

The first name Alistair is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United Kingdom 83%
Australia 11%
Canada 6%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Alistair by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
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Name Variants & Related Names

The name Alistair has several variants and related forms across different languages and cultures:

  • Alastair
  • Alasdair
  • Alexander
  • Alex

Notable People Named Alistair Whelan

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Alistair Whelan:

8
Expression Number

Ambition and material success. Represents power, business acumen and the drive to achieve significant goals.

8
Soul Urge Number

Ambition and material success. Represents power, business acumen and the drive to achieve significant goals.

9
Personality Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Alistair?
The first name Alistair originates from Greek. Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander (Greek Alexandros: defender of men). Common throughout the Scottish Highlands.
When was Alistair most popular?
The name Alistair reached its peak popularity during the 1975s.
What is the origin of the surname Whelan?
The surname Whelan originates from Celtic. The family name Whelan is an anglicisation of the Irish surname Ó Faoláin. The surname originates from the Middle Irish Úa Faeláin (plural Uí Faeláin) the name of the 10th to 11th century ruling dynasty of the Déisi, a population group inhabiting the area of the modern counties of Waterford and Kilkenny in the Early Middle Ages. The word faolán is derived from the Old Irish word faelán meaning a young (small) wolf; -án being of the diminutive suffix in Irish. Ó (anglicised as O') derives from the Old Irish úa, meaning "grandson", or more figuratively "patrilineal descendant".
What are the origins of the name Alistair Whelan?
The name Alistair Whelan combines two different traditions: the first name Alistair has Greek roots, while the surname Whelan originates from Celtic.
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