What does Alasdair mean?
Alasdair is the Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander, “defender of the people.”
What does Lachlan mean?
Lachlan means “from the land of lochs,” originally “Viking” or “from Norway.”
Alasdair vs Lachlan
Which is more popular?
Lachlan is more popular than Alasdair today: about 468 US babies were given the name Lachlan in 2025, compared with 28 named Alasdair.
| Alasdair | Lachlan | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Defender of the people | From the land of lochs |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | AL-us-ter | LOK-lan |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1989 | 1952 |
| Peak year | 2021 (37) | 2025 (468) |
| In 2025 | 28 | 468 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Alasdair
Lachlan
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Alasdair | Lachlan |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 167 | 2,249 |
| 2010s | 225 | 2,697 |
| 2000s | 85 | 920 |
| 1990s | 43 | 185 |
| 1980s | 5 | 31 |
| 1970s | 0 | 5 |
| 1960s | 0 | 5 |
| 1950s | 0 | 16 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Alasdair or Lachlan more popular?
Lachlan is more popular than Alasdair today: about 468 US babies were given the name Lachlan in 2025, compared with 28 named Alasdair.
What is the difference between Alasdair and Lachlan?
Alasdair means Defender of the people (Scottish origin), while Lachlan means From the land of lochs (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Alasdair or Lachlan?
In US records, Alasdair first appears in 1989 and Lachlan in 1952, so Lachlan has the longer recorded history.