Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Heather
GirlEnglish· “heather plant”
- Meaning
- heather plant
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- HEH-thur
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,264
- US babies 2025
- 177
- Best rank
- #3 (1975)
- Peak year
- 1975
Meaning and origin of Heather
Heather is an English name that means “heather plant”.
Heather is the name of a small flowering shrub that covers moors and hillsides in Scotland and northern England. The word comes from Middle English hather, and its deeper origin is uncertain. As a given name, Heather came into use in the late nineteenth century with other plant names, and it became very popular in the United States in the late twentieth century. The name has a gentle, outdoorsy feel and strong Scottish associations, since white heather is traditionally considered lucky there. Heather is simple and familiar, and Heath is a possible nickname.
Popularity over time
Heather first appears in US Social Security records in 1914. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 82 different years, starting in 1935. Its best national rank was #3 in 1975, the same year it reached its highest count of 24,301 babies. In 2025, 177 babies were named Heather, and it ranked #1,264 nationally. That is 37% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #5,302 in 1920, #461 in 1950, #6 in 1980, #125 in 2000, #682 in 2010, and #1,264 in 2025. Of the 525,910 US girls named Heather since records began, 39% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 191,852 babies. Since 2010, 3,964 more have been named Heather.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Amy.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Heather ranked highest in Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Utah.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | #566 | 5 |
| Oklahoma | #649 | 6 |
| Utah | #748 | 5 |
| Missouri | #854 | 6 |
| Indiana | #855 | 7 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Heather is usually pronounced HEH-thur, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with H and ends in “-er”.
Middle names for Heather
A few middle names that flow with Heather: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Heather
Similar names
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Lists that include Heather
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Heather mean?
Heather is an English name that means “heather plant”.
What is the origin of the name Heather?
Heather has English roots. Heather is the name of a small flowering shrub that covers moors and hillsides in Scotland and northern England.
Is Heather a popular name?
Not especially. Heather ranked #1,264 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Heather a boy or girl name?
Heather is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Heather?
Heather is usually pronounced HEH-thur. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings