What does Alasdair mean?
Alasdair is the Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander, “defender of the people.”
What does Angus mean?
Angus comes from the Gaelic Aonghas, “one choice” or “one strength.”
Alasdair vs Angus
Which is more popular?
Angus is more popular than Alasdair today: about 58 US babies were given the name Angus in 2025, compared with 28 named Alasdair.
| Alasdair | Angus | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Defender of the people | One strength |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | AL-us-ter | ANG-gus |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1989 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2021 (37) | 2006 (126) |
| In 2025 | 28 | 58 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Alasdair
Angus
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Alasdair | Angus |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 167 | 423 |
| 2010s | 225 | 856 |
| 2000s | 85 | 1,042 |
| 1990s | 43 | 754 |
| 1980s | 5 | 360 |
| 1970s | 0 | 307 |
| 1960s | 0 | 283 |
| 1950s | 0 | 345 |
| 1940s | 0 | 405 |
| 1930s | 0 | 394 |
| 1920s | 0 | 660 |
| 1910s | 0 | 496 |
| 1900s | 0 | 128 |
| 1890s | 0 | 143 |
| 1880s | 0 | 155 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Alasdair or Angus more popular?
Angus is more popular than Alasdair today: about 58 US babies were given the name Angus in 2025, compared with 28 named Alasdair.
What is the difference between Alasdair and Angus?
Alasdair means Defender of the people (Scottish origin), while Angus means One strength (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Alasdair or Angus?
In US records, Alasdair first appears in 1989 and Angus in 1880, so Angus has the longer recorded history.