Alison vs Heather
Alison and Heather compared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Alison was ranked #50 and Heather #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1979, Alison was ranked #70 and Heather #96 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2005, Alison was ranked #377 and Heather #193 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Heather #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #1719 and Heather #792 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Heather over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Alison and Heather over time
Alison and Heather appear together in 5 published lists, across 147 years of shared records. Heather held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alison in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Heather reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Alison in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1960, Alison moved ahead of Heather in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #66 and #52 the year before became #60 and #61.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alison and Heather changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 1979, ending at #70 and #96.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alison and Heather averaged 34.8 places apart, ending at #50 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Heather were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1719 and #792.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alison #225 in 1996, Heather #78 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Heather in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Heather #83 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Heather #325.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Heather in 30.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Heather #78 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #1719, Heather #792.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1954–1979
Alison held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Heather in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alison #30 in 1966, Heather #15 in 1955.
The order changed in 1976: Alison moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #96 and #93; by 1976 that had become #84 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Alison #70, Heather #96.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1952–1986
Alison held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Heather in 8.
Highest recorded here: Alison #27 in 1965, Heather #44 in 1954.
The order changed in 1960: Alison moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #66 and #52; by 1960 that had become #60 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Alison #50, Heather #97.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2005
Alison held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Heather in 5.
Highest recorded here: Alison #118 in 1998, Heather #172 in 1997.
The order changed in 2004: Heather moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #252 and #286; by 2004 that had become #273 and #212.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Alison #377, Heather #193.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Alison
Pairs where Alison shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Gemma vs Alison
In 1964 they stood at #149 and #146 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #718 and #213.
Gemma · Alison · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alison vs Cara
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Cara rose about as far as Alison fell — from #98 and #344 in 1966 to #213 and #52 in 2025.
Alison · Cara · 60 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Sophia vs Alison
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophia rose about as far as Alison fell — from #325 and #117 in 1965 to #14 and #213 in 2025.
Sophia · Alison · 60 shared years, 1965–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Caoimhe vs Alison
Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe rose about as far as Alison fell — from #380 and #98 in 1966 to #31 and #213 in 2025.
Caoimhe · Alison · 57 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Heather
Pairs where Heather shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Nicola vs Heather
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #78 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #792.
Nicola · Heather · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Heather vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #78 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #792 and #3705.
Heather · Rachael · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Kelly vs Heather
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #78 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #2006 and #792.
Kelly · Heather · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Leanne vs Heather
In 1996 they stood at #88 and #78 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #2006 and #792.
Leanne · Heather · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1970s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1970 and 1979.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Alison | Heather |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Heather.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Alison
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #76 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1996
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1979 (recorded 1952–1996).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Heather
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #45 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1983
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1983).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #792 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls