Is Heather a boy's or girl's name?

Heather is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 1,477 recorded births.

When was Heather most popular?

Heather reached its peak popularity in 1975 with 24,302 births that year. It is currently ranked #1352 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Heather?

Heather is currently ranked #1352 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 525,733 babies since 1914.

Heather

An uncommon Old English pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's name| Also boysOld EnglishRising fast Also a pet name

#1352▼ 26in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from English.

Heather is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old English origin, taken directly from the flowering plant Calluna vulgaris, which blankets the Scottish moors in purple. The word hather appears in Middle English, and the name became popular as a given name through the 20th century.

Heather shot to the U.S. top 10 in the 1970s, part of a wave of nature-inspired names that defined that decade. The 1988 cult film Heathers gave it a sharp, subversive edge alongside its natural beauty. Breezy and botanical, Heather carries the wild beauty of the Scottish Highlands into every room.

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Popularity Over Time

Heather was #244 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1352, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Heather
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	843	#1347	▼
2010s	2,940	#948	▼
2000s	13,996	#296	▼
1990s	71,625	#58	▼
1980s	191,854	#10	—
1970s	203,906	#8	▲
1960s	32,703	#162	▲
1950s	5,551	#386	▲
1940s	1,841	#576	▲
1930s	434	#1658	▲
1920s	27	#4413	▲
1910s	13	#3826	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(101 years, 1914–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Heather
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	168	#1352	-3 (-1.8%)
2023	171	#1326	-9 (-5.0%)
2022	180	#1309	+7 (4.0%)
2021	173	#1307	+22 (14.6%)
2020	151	#1443	-11 (-6.8%)
2019	162	#1387	-49 (-23.2%)
2018	211	#1152	-12 (-5.4%)
2017	223	#1126	-51 (-18.6%)
2016	274	#977	-7 (-2.5%)
2015	281	#965	-50 (-15.1%)
2014	331	#837	+15 (4.7%)
2013	316	#835	-14 (-4.2%)
2012	330	#812	-61 (-15.6%)
2011	391	#711	-30 (-7.1%)
2010	421	#682	-134 (-24.1%)
2009	555	#548	-99 (-15.1%)
2008	654	#484	-145 (-18.1%)
2007	799	#408	-175 (-18.0%)
2006	974	#339	-93 (-8.7%)
2005	1,067	#300	-237 (-18.2%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Heather as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Heather has also been given to 1,477 boys in the U.S. since 1962.

Unranked

Current rank

1,477

Total births

1976

Peak year

Compare Heather as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Heather be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Heather is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #1352. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Heather has two lives

Heather, the baby name

#1352girls

525,733 babies

Currently viewing

Heather, the pet name

#2531pet name

36 pets

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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1914–2024) · Methodology