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

Popularity of Heidi by gender

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

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 864 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Heidi.

The history of the first name Heidi

The name Heidi originated from the German language, derived from the medieval Germanic name Heidrun. Heidrun is a compound word, consisting of the elements "haid" meaning "bright" or "shining," and "run" meaning "secret" or "mystery." The name first appeared in the 8th century AD, popularized in the regions of present-day Germany and Switzerland.

The earliest known reference to the name Heidi can be found in the Old Norse poem "Völuspá," which dates back to the 9th or 10th century AD. In this poem, Heidrun is described as a mythical goat that produces a never-ending supply of mead, the sacred drink of the gods.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Heidi was Heidi of Masmünster, a German abbess who lived in the 12th century. She was known for her piety and devotion to the Church.

The name gained wider recognition in the 19th century with the publication of the classic children's novel "Heidi" by Swiss author Johanna Spyri in 1880. The novel's titular character, Heidi, a young orphan girl, became an iconic figure in children's literature.

Notable people named Heidi throughout history include Heidi Zeller-Bähler (1915-1992), a Swiss politician and the first female member of the Swiss Federal Council; Heidi Klum (born 1973), a German-American model and television personality; Heidi Ueberroth (born 1960), an American Olympic swimmer and gold medalist; Heidi Fleiss (born 1965), an American former madam and convicted felon; and Heidi Tworek (born 1985), a German-American historian and author.

The name Heidi has maintained its popularity, particularly in German-speaking countries and regions with Germanic cultural influences, due to its association with the beloved literary character and its charming, pastoral connotations.

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 Heidi was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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