Alastor is a unique and uncommon male given name of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "Alasdair," which means "champion." The name Alastor has been used throughout history, with notable figures bearing this name including Alastair Reid, a prominent Scottish poet and translator, and Alastair Campbell, a British political aide and communicator.
The name Alastor is often associated with the supernatural due to its appearance in various literary works. In John Keats' poem "Lamia," there is a character named Alastor who is a spirit that can take on different forms. Additionally, Alastor is also the name of the demon in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Devil and the Lady."
Despite these supernatural associations, the name Alastor is simply a Scottish given name with a meaningful origin. It is not associated with any specific religious or cultural celebrations or festivals. While it may be less common than other male names, those who bear the name Alastor carry with them a unique and rich history that stretches back to Scotland's past.
In terms of pronunciation, Alastor is typically pronounced as "A-la-STOR." It consists of two syllables, with the stress falling on the second syllable. The name can be spelled in various ways, including Alastair, Alastore, and Alastor, among others. However, the most common spelling is simply Alastor.
Overall, Alastor is a distinctive and meaningful male given name with Scottish origins. While it may have some supernatural associations due to its appearance in literature, at its core, Alastor is simply a name that means "champion" and has been carried by notable figures throughout history.
Here are some interesting statistics about the name Alastor in the United States from 2011 to present:
From 2011 onwards, there has been a steady increase in the number of babies named Alastor each year. In 2011, only 6 babies were named Alastor, but by 2023 that number had risen to 42.
The years with the highest numbers of newborns named Alastor were 2022 and 2023, with 42 and 33 births respectively. This suggests that the name has gained popularity in recent times.
However, it's important to note that even at its peak in 2022 and 2023, Alastor is still not a very common name. Over these two years combined, only 75 babies were named Alastor, which is less than 0.1% of all births during those years.
Overall, since 2011 there have been a total of 255 babies named Alastor in the United States, indicating that while it's not a mainstream name, it does have some appeal to parents looking for unique options.