Alister vs Malcom

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Alister

Boy #1,650 Most Popular 3 Syllables

"defender of men"

Origin: Greek via Gaelic

Scottish British Irish

✓ All Clear

Boy #1,750 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"devotee of Saint Columba"

Origin: Scottish Gaelic

Scottish English African-American

✓ All Clear

Alister Rank #1,650

Malcom Rank #1,750

Alister is more popular, ranked #1650 vs #1750 for Malcom.

Is Alister or Malcom more popular?

Alister is more popular, ranked #1650 compared to Malcom at #1750 in the United States.

What do Alister and Malcom mean?

Alister means "defender of men" (Greek via Gaelic origin). Malcom means "devotee of Saint Columba" (Scottish Gaelic origin).

Are Alister and Malcom boy or girl names?

Alister is primarily a boy name. Malcom is primarily a boy name.