So close, yet SO stuck! šŸ˜© Please help!

  • [name_m]Alastair[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Alistair[/name_m]

0 voters

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everyone,

As I am now at the end of my tether I thought I would give this one last go and use your input to hopefully make my mind up once and for all.

You have all been so wonderful with your feedback about our current dilemma; [name_m]Alastair[/name_m] or [name_m]Alistair[/name_m]?

Iā€™m going to put this question out there to all you name loving Berries:
If you had to personally decide out of [name_m]Alastair[/name_m] or [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] which would you choose?

I am looking for the spelling that looks the most elegant, distinguished and sophisticated and that seems the most likely to fit in with the style of big brother [name_m]Edmund[/name_m]. To be completely honest, I looked up both names on the Nameberry database and [name_m]Alastair[/name_m] appears in the ā€˜Yupsterā€™ names list whilst [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] features in the ā€˜[name_f]Fancy[/name_f], Elegant and Sophisticatedā€™ name list. Iā€™m not really sure why this has occurred for the different spellings so some insight would be terrific! I know itā€™s ridiculous but I really didnā€™t want a Yupster name for our son. Lol :joy:

If you could please respond (again!) Iā€™d be most grateful :pray:t2:

First of all, both [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] and [name_m]Alastair[/name_m] are amazing names! In fact, sometimes one letter makes an huge difference, but this is not the case. At least, not for me. That different letter doesnā€™t change my perspective of the names. I believe they fit into the same categories and the same style.
That being said, I completely understand why youā€™re going back and forward with this decision. [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] and [name_m]Alastair[/name_m] are very charming, interesting and elegant names for a boy. Both are elegant and sophisticated. And besides that, the two options sound and look perfect next to your oldest boyā€™s name.
At the end, I voted [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] because it is simpler for me to pronounce. This is probably not the best argument, but I hope it helps you.
You seem to have done a great research, did you find any good or bad associations to either name? Which origin of the names is more appealing to you?

Good luck :four_leaf_clover:

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I voted for [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] purely because thatā€™s how I would instinctively spell it if I heard it in real life and had to write it down. But [name_m]Alastair[/name_m] looks great as well.

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Alistair is [name_f]Lovely[/name_f]!

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Thank you for your very thoughtful and kind words. I agree with you that both spellings are lovely and I think this is why Iā€™m not sure which way to go. And I donā€™t want to pick one and then regret not choosing the other!

Initially my gut instinct was to go with the [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] spelling and now Iā€™m afraid that in all my research I seem to have confused myself completely. Iā€™m pretty sure that when I look at both spellings now I prefer the look of [name_m]Alastair[/name_m] :woman_facepalming:t2: Iā€™m so undecided right now!!

What a great question youā€™ve asked - In all my research of both names there isnā€™t a namesake that Iā€™ve found to have a meaningful connection with, unfortunately. If I could just find one then maybe the decision would be a little less tricky.

Would you be more likely to pronounce [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] as [name_m]Al[/name_m]-is-tuh and [name_m]Alastair[/name_m] as [name_m]Al[/name_m]-as-tuh? Or would you pronounce them the same? Unfortunately I have a negative association with the surname Lister and now Iā€™m worried that this may be a problem with the pronunciation of [name_m]Alistair[/name_m].

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Thank you!!

So sorry to vote for the least fave option so far but I know two irl and they both spell it [name_m]Alastair[/name_m]! [name_u]Love[/name_u] that spelling.

Please donā€™t be sorry! This is why I wanted to have a poll on this - both names are lovely!

Do you pronounce your friendsā€™ names [name_m]Al[/name_m]-ah-stuh or [name_m]Al[/name_m]-as-tuh? I hope that makes sense?!

I probably would not pronounce them differently unless I was told.
Very very handsome brother name to [name_m]Edmund[/name_m]!!
I voted for [name_m]Alastair[/name_m] as the one that I know spells it this way.

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Hmm theyā€™re both kiwi so more likeā€¦ [name_m]Al[/name_m]-uh-stuh. But I would say you can pronounce it however you like! I also wouldnā€™t pronounce them any differently to each other.

Oh - perfect! Thatā€™s very reassuring to hear, thank you :hugs:

Thank you for saying this!!

Alistair lookd sleek and sophisticated to me and would be my preference

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I prefer [name_m]Alistair[/name_m], just because I see ā€œalasā€ at the beginning on [name_m]Alastair[/name_m]. I think either spelling would be fine for whichever pronunciation you prefer.

Sleek and sophisticated is definitely what we are going for!

Yes - Iā€™ve always seen the ā€˜alasā€™ beginning too :thinking:

You know - Iā€™ve got to agree with this! For some reason I also think the [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] spelling looks nicer with [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] :two_hearts:

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[name_m]Just[/name_m] something trivial to add - Iā€™ve just noticed that [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] spelt in this way has a nice even balance of two ā€˜aā€™sā€™ and two ā€˜iā€™sā€™.

Not sure that this really matters though! Lol :woman_shrugging:t2:

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Since youā€™re essentially choosing between two different spellings of the same name, Iā€™m gonna give my synesthesia brain permission to free-associate, in hopes that the different ā€œfeelā€ of each spelling will help one resonate with you more than the other.

Alastair feels rounder, grander, more expansive. I get impressions of ballroom staircases, the hurried feeling of writing down an inspiration before itā€™s gone, warm light in rainy windows, tarnished silver tea sets, and stacks of vintage books, mostly classic literature with worn-out spines. Colors are warmer - browns, creams, and golds.

Alistair feels slimmer, sharper, more precise. I get impressions of fencing foils and needle-sharp daggers, narrowed eyes, the smudgy shadows of a rainy day, silver hair sticks sharpened to a point, and words laced with double-meanings. Colors are cooler - silver and charcoal.

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Wow! I absolutely LOVE this!! Thank you so much for sharing all these beautiful visions that you have so eloquently described :heart_eyes:

Out of the two contrasting images I prefer the warmer feel of [name_m]Alastair[/name_m] :heart:

Thank you again!

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