Heather
Heather comes directly from the name of the heather plant — the flowering shrub that covers Scottish moors. The word is from the Old English "hǣddre," of uncertain origin. As a first name, Heather is essentially 20th-century — it was rare before 1900 and became wildly popular in the mid-20th century. Heather was a top-100 American name from 1967 to 1997, peaking at #3 in 1975 — held out of #1 only by Jennifer and Amy. The peak was so concentrated that Heather now reads as definitively 1970s-80s. The 1989 film "Heathers," a dark comedy about high school girls named Heather, gave the name a cultural charge that has outlasted its peak popularity. I find Heather has a soft, slightly Scottish quality — the "th" in the middle gives it an English-genteel texture, and the "-er" ending gives it a slightly masculine echo. The name has been outside the US top 500 since 2015. But the plant association is lovely, and the film "Heathers" has kept the name culturally visible. Heather is a female name of English (plant name) origin that means "Heather (the plant)". 70s-80s, soft, and a little Scottish. The name sounds friendly. Heathers tend to be social. US peaked #3 in 1975. Outside top 500 since 2015. Well-known people named Heather include Heather (film), Heather Locklear (actress), Heather Graham (actress), Heather (plant). Common variations and related forms of Heather include Heather (English), Heath (related plant name), Heatherly (elaboration), Heathyr (modern).