Heather
Say it: HEH-ther/ˈhɛðə/
GirlMeans heather, the purple-flowered moorland plant7 letters2 syllables
#325
in Ireland (2025)
#329 with spellings combined
12
babies in 2025
#83
best rank (2003)
1,826
babies since 1964
Down 53
10-year rank change
Heather through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | #329 |
| 2024 | 3 | #869 |
| 2023 | 9 | #394 |
| 2022 | 13 | #317 |
| 2021 | 12 | #339 |
| 2020 | 9 | #407 |
| 2019 | 11 | #360 |
| 2018 | 19 | #245 |
| 2017 | 13 | #325 |
| 2016 | 15 | #303 |
| 2015 | 18 | #276 |
| 2014 | 12 | #373 |
| 2013 | 10 | #428 |
| 2012 | 18 | #281 |
| 2011 | 19 | #266 |
| 2010 | 21 | #255 |
| 2009 | 19 | #263 |
| 2008 | 41 | #148 |
| 2007 | 61 | #99 |
| 2006 | 63 | #91 |
| 2005 | 61 | #97 |
| 2004 | 41 | #120 |
| 2003 | 61 | #83 |
| 2002 | 53 | #93 |
| 2001 | 47 | #103 |
| 2000 | 32 | #128 |
| 1999 | 30 | #131 |
| 1998 | 39 | #94 |
| 1997 | 50 | #104 |
| 1996 | 62 | #87 |
| 1995 | 52 | #103 |
| 1994 | 40 | #134 |
| 1993 | 44 | #121 |
| 1992 | 51 | #111 |
| 1991 | 53 | #112 |
| 1990 | 44 | #122 |
| 1989 | 31 | #158 |
| 1988 | 39 | #143 |
| 1987 | 31 | #164 |
| 1986 | 38 | #151 |
| 1985 | 41 | #141 |
| 1984 | 27 | #197 |
| 1983 | 21 | #219 |
| 1982 | 20 | #236 |
| 1981 | 22 | #225 |
| 1980 | 26 | #208 |
| 1979 | 26 | #207 |
| 1978 | 21 | #226 |
| 1977 | 22 | #215 |
| 1976 | 30 | #188 |
| 1975 | 18 | #228 |
| 1974 | 28 | #195 |
| 1973 | 25 | #207 |
| 1972 | 30 | #180 |
| 1971 | 14 | #243 |
| 1970 | 25 | #188 |
| 1969 | 23 | #191 |
| 1968 | 21 | #189 |
| 1967 | 21 | #177 |
| 1966 | 25 | #164 |
| 1965 | 22 | #167 |
| 1964 | 21 | #167 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Heather mean?
Heather, the purple-flowered moorland plant
English, from the plant name, from Middle English hather.
Say it right
HEHther
The story of Heather
Heather is named after the low, hardy shrub with small purple, pink or white flowers that covers moors and mountainsides in Ireland and Britain. The word comes from Middle English hather, and its spelling changed in the 1700s under the influence of heath, the open land where it grows. It became a girl’s name in the nineteenth century, along with other plant names such as Ivy, Hazel and Holly.
In Ireland Heather was already in use when the CSO records begin. Unlike most names of its age, it kept growing for decades. It reached number 83 in 2003, and its biggest year was 2006, with 63 girls. It has been rarer since, with 12 girls in 2025. It has been less common in Northern Ireland, where its best rank was number 166 in 2003.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Heather (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Heather (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Heather | 12 | 1,826 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #166 (2003); 82 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.