What does Alasdair mean?
Alasdair is the Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander, “defender of the people.”
What does Fraser mean?
Fraser is a great Scottish clan name, linked to the French for “strawberry.”
Alasdair vs Fraser
Which is more popular?
Alasdair is more popular than Fraser today: about 28 US babies were given the name Alasdair in 2025, compared with 16 named Fraser.
| Alasdair | Fraser | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Defender of the people | Of the strawberries |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | AL-us-ter | FRAY-zer |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1989 | 1915 |
| Peak year | 2021 (37) | 2024 (22) |
| In 2025 | 28 | 16 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Alasdair
Fraser
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Alasdair | Fraser |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 167 | 89 |
| 2010s | 225 | 49 |
| 2000s | 85 | 51 |
| 1990s | 43 | 73 |
| 1980s | 5 | 63 |
| 1970s | 0 | 18 |
| 1960s | 0 | 50 |
| 1950s | 0 | 38 |
| 1940s | 0 | 47 |
| 1930s | 0 | 18 |
| 1920s | 0 | 21 |
| 1910s | 0 | 34 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Alasdair or Fraser more popular?
Alasdair is more popular than Fraser today: about 28 US babies were given the name Alasdair in 2025, compared with 16 named Fraser.
What is the difference between Alasdair and Fraser?
Alasdair means Defender of the people (Scottish origin), while Fraser means Of the strawberries (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Alasdair or Fraser?
In US records, Alasdair first appears in 1989 and Fraser in 1915, so Fraser has the longer recorded history.