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