Find out how popular the first name Heather has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Heather by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Heather is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Heather being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 170 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Heather.

The history of the first name Heather

The name Heather is derived from the Old English word 'hæddre', which referred to the flowering evergreen plant found in heathlands and moorlands. It was a popular name in Medieval England, often given to babies born or found on the heaths. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the 12th century.

Heather was a common name among the peasant class in England during the Middle Ages. It gained popularity among the nobility in the 16th century, with the birth of Heather Sutton (1545-1612), the daughter of a wealthy landowner in Yorkshire. Heather Sutton later became a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, Heather Fell (1624-1698) was a prominent Quaker preacher and author from Lancashire, known for her writings on religious tolerance and non-violence. Another notable figure was Heather Howe (1672-1741), a Scottish botanist and one of the first women to be elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

The name Heather experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 19th century, particularly in the United States. One of the earliest recorded instances was Heather Longfellow (1808-1892), the daughter of the famous American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Heather Graham (1820-1888) was a Scottish-American novelist known for her historical romance novels set in the Scottish Highlands.

In the 20th century, Heather Squier (1915-2004) was an American artist and illustrator, renowned for her children's book illustrations. Heather Firbank (1888-1945) was a British novelist and memoirist, known for her wit and unconventional lifestyle. Heather O'Rourke (1975-1988) was a child actress best known for her role as Carol Anne Freeling in the Poltergeist film series.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Heather was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Heather, please contact us.

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