How Many People Are Named Heather?

Complete statistics for the name Heather: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Heather
Very Rare
Old English

Heather has a classic yet modern feel. There are about 504,569 people named Heather in the US today, making it 1 in 654. It peaked in 1975 with 24,367 births that year.

~1,041
Living in US
1 in 318,395
Americans
1975
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Flowering shrub of the moors
🌐
Origin
Old English
🌟
Lucky Day
Friday
💎
Lucky Stone
Amethyst
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 11
Personality Traits
Natural Warm Resilient Free-spirited
11
Life Path Number

The number 11 is considered a master number in numerology, linked to intuition, spiritual insight, and a heightened sensitivity to the world. People connected to 11 are often seen as visionary and deeply empathetic, driven by a sense of purpose beyond the everyday.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

504,569
Worldwide Bearers
#968
Global Rank
🇮🇪 Ireland
1,439
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
1,224
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
1,221
🇹🇭 Thailand
1,123
🇳🇱 Netherlands
627
🇩🇪 Germany
495
🇪🇬 Egypt
434
🇨🇳 China
433
🇬🇭 Ghana
393
🇵🇭 Philippines
370

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
1,365 (0%)
♀ Female
503,204 (100%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 45
27,853
Would be under 30 (5%)
481,139
Would be 30–60 (91%)
18,218
Would be over 60 (3%)

All 527,210 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1975

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
100
Classic Feel
54
Modern Appeal
46
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Heather Through the Generations

Heather's journey through American demographics is quite fascinating. With 527,210 total births across all time, but only 504,569 currently living, it shows a decline in recent years. The majority, 92%, are aged 30-60, suggesting a strong presence in middle adulthood. Interestingly, the peak year was 1975, when 24,367 babies were named Heather, indicating a surge in popularity during that era. This name has been in the US top 10 for 28 years, showcasing its enduring appeal despite the current decline.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 47,882
Ohio 30,650
Pennsylvania 29,790
New York 28,889
Texas 28,586
Michigan 24,640
Illinois 22,322
Florida 21,220
Indiana 15,885
North Carolina 14,838

⭐ Famous People Named Heather

Heather is an English primarily feminine given name. The botanical name refers to a variety of small shrubs with pink or white flowers which commonly grow in rocky areas. The brush is native to Scotland and England, but it is more commonly found in Scotland due to its rocky territories. The name is derived from Middle English hather. The spelling was altered in the 18th century due to associations with the English word heath, denoting a location where the plant heather often grows.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Heather

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Heather's Old English roots

📄 About the Name Heather

How Many People Have the Name Heather?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 1,041 people in the United States currently share the name Heather. That works out to roughly 1 in every 318,395 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Heather a Common or Rare Name?

Heather is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Heather Mean?

Heather means "flowering shrub of the moors" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 11.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Heather in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.

When Was Heather Most Popular?

The name Heather reached peak popularity in 1975, with 24,367 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Heather?

Approximately 1,041 people named Heather live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 1,041. That works out to roughly 1 in 318,395 Americans.

Is Heather a rare name?

Heather is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 318,395 Americans has this name.

What does the name Heather mean?

Heather means "flowering shrub of the moors" and comes from Old English origins.

Is Heather more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Heather are male and 100% are female.

When was Heather most popular?

Heather peaked in 1975 with 24,367 births that year. Current trend: Declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US1,041
All-Time Births1,041
1 in X1 in 318,395
RarityVery Rare
GenderFemale
Avg Age45
Peak Year1975
World Rank#968
Male %0%
Female %100%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.