Alister vs Denis

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Alister

Boy #1,650 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"defender of men"

Origin: Greek via Gaelic

Cultural Roots

Scottish British Irish

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,650
Total SSA Count
102
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Al, Ali, Alis

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Alister →

Denis

Boy #1,643 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"follower of Dionysus, god of wine"

Origin: Greek Dionysios

Cultural Roots

French Russian Eastern European Spanish-speaking Irish

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,643
Total SSA Count
103
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Den, Deni, Denny

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Denis →

Popularity Comparison

Alister Rank #1,650
Denis Rank #1,643

Denis is more popular, ranked #1643 vs #1650 for Alister.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Alister ___

  • Alister James
  • Alister Hugh
  • Alister John
  • Alister Robert
  • Alister Fraser
  • Alister Grant

Denis ___

  • Denis Philippe
  • Denis Marc
  • Denis Patrick
  • Denis Pierre
  • Denis Antoine
  • Denis Julien

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Alister

Callum Hamish Isla Fiona Duncan

If you choose Denis

Nicolas Laurent Sophie Chloe Fabien

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alister or Denis more popular?

Denis is more popular, ranked #1643 compared to Alister at #1650 in the United States.

What do Alister and Denis mean?

Alister means "defender of men" (Greek via Gaelic origin). Denis means "follower of Dionysus, god of wine" (Greek Dionysios origin).

Are Alister and Denis boy or girl names?

Alister is primarily a boy name. Denis is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

Denis vs Alister Alister vs Zamari Alister vs Youssef Alister vs Arlen Alister vs Kasai
← Full profile: Alister ← Full profile: Denis Browse all baby names