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They sound the same when I say them. I love love either of them, but prefer the spelling Alasdair just so it doesn't have the word stair sticking out at you. I like Ali for a nickname, or Al I think is cute. I think it works fine with that sibling set.

I like them both, and I think Ali is really cute for a boy's nn, but the Alistair spelling comes across as more preppy/pretentious to me. Alasdair fits well with the sibling names.

AL-iss-der
That's how I pronounce both of them. And I really like them/it.
And it would totally fit with those siblings - although I think Rufus is a bit of a misfit in there. Barnaby, Theodora and Alasdair are particularly great together.

Pronunciation is identical.

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Ali is fine for a small boy; I imagine it will naturally shorten/mature to Al, if he needs a nn at all.

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My son's 2nd mn is Alastair. I would have preferred the Alistair spelling, because I like the subtle repetition of a-i-a-i; however, the two friends we used the name because of both have the Alastair spelling (and a former boyfriend of mine was an Alistair!) so that's what we went with.

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Of all your potential names, only Theodora seems to stand out as different. Nice name, but in the wrong sibset.

I pronounce Alistair like alis-ster

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I pronounce Alasdair like - alis-dare

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I much prefer Aladair but like both. Alasdair makes me think of a handsome dark haired man who is intelligent with a cheeky side to him. I think of a very kind man

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Ali is nice, but I prefer it without a nickname

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Alasdair would fit in perfectly with the others. I especially think Rufus, Barnaby and Alasdair would be a gorgeous trio of boys :)

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I pronounce them almost the same. I like them, but I'm not so sure about how they go with the potential sibligns.

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Rufus, Barnaby and Alistair/Alasdair would work. It doesn't work that well with Daphne and Theodora though.

I pretty much say them same. With Alasdair, I kind of say the 'D' instead of 'T' so it might sound slightly softer (and I prefer it that way) but they sound almost identical. I love Alasdair because I quite like the idea of Dair (Dare) as a nickname as well. I think Daphne, Rufus, Theodora, Barnaby and Alasdair sound great together. I especially love Theodora and Barnaby.

This message was edited 9/8/2015, 11:00 PM

I pronounce both pretty much the same. I really like this name but wouldn't use it myself. I think Alasdair would definitely go with siblings Daphne, Rufus, Theodora and Barnaby =)

I wouldn't pronounce them the same, but I also don't think I've ever heard Alasdair said aloud. Alistair I'd pronounce like 'AL-iss-tair' or 'a-LIS-tair' or 'A-list-air' (something like that, anyway; probably closest to the first one) while Alasdair I'd pronounce like 'AL-as-dare' or 'al-as-DARE'. (The Alister spelling I'd pronounce as 'A-liss-ter'.) Alistair is a major character in 'Dragon Age: Origins', and I think that's the only place I've heard any version of the name said aloud (other than Alastor as in Alastor Moody in the Harry Potter films, but there certainly seems to be a different pronunciation there as well as a slightly different origin?).

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I prefer Alistair, probably mostly due to the Dragon Age association.

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Ali could be a cute nn for either. :)

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The sibset sounds fine to me, but I'm not really great at judging sibsets. I'm not fond of the name Rufus (it makes me think of a dog), but the others are nice.

This message was edited 9/8/2015, 7:26 PM

I pronounce all versions of the name Al-ess-ter (non-rhotic), but I don't hit the t as sharply as I might for Hester or Martin et. al.

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Preferred spelling Alastair though.

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I think Alasdair is a touch more specific, regionally Scottish, rather than generally British Daphne, Rufus, Theodora, and Barnaby. I think if they were in a sibset all together a Flora, Marjorie, Hamish, or Walter would even it out. Individually paired with Alasdair, they all work.