Alison vs Heather
Alison and Heathercompared 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 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Heather #826 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Heather over time
Alison and Heather appear together in 5 published lists, across 146 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 Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #213 and #325.
- 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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Heather in 29.
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, 2024: Alison #1603, Heather #826.
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.
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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| 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 #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls