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