Namewise

Caoimhe vs Heather

Caoimhe 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.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2007, Caoimhe was ranked #31 and Heather #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Caoimhe was ranked #31 and Heather #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Caoimhe was ranked #275 and Heather #351 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Caoimhe was ranked #1110 and Heather #792 among girls in England and Wales.

Caoimhe and Heather over time

Caoimhe and Heather appear together in 3 published lists, across 98 years of shared records. Caoimhe held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Heather in 1.

The order between them changed and held in one 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 1 of those lists, and Caoimhe in none. 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 1981, Caoimhe moved ahead of Heather in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #220 and #208 the year before became #188 and #225.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Caoimhe and Heather changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1110 and #792.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe rose about as far as Heather fell — from #380 and #164 in 1966 to #31 and #325 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Caoimhe and Heather were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #792.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Caoimhe #25 in 2003, Heather #166 in 2003.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1966–2025

    Caoimhe held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Heather in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #12 in 2003, Heather #83 in 2003.

    The order changed in 1981: Caoimhe moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #220 and #208; by 1981 that had become #188 and #225.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Caoimhe #31, Heather #325.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Caoimhe held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Heather in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #639 in 2013, Heather #78 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Caoimhe #1110, Heather #792.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2007

    Caoimhe held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Heather in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #25 in 2003, Heather #166 in 2003.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2007: Caoimhe #31, Heather #351.

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 Caoimhe

Pairs where Caoimhe shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Heather

Pairs where Heather shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Caoimhe, Heather
FieldCaoimheHeather
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningCommonly interpreted as 'dear', 'beloved', or 'gentle', from the Irish word caomh.Not yet recorded
OriginIrishNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈkiːvʲə/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #31 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Caoimhe has a recorded origin (Irish); Heather does not have one recorded yet.
  • Caoimhe and Heather both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Caoimhe; Heather doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Caoimhe

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1966

    First recorded at #380 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1966–2025

    Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 1966–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Heather

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1983

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1983).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #792 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls