Namewise

Clodagh vs Heather

Clodagh 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.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Clodagh was ranked #47 and Heather #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2007, Clodagh was ranked #52 and Heather #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Clodagh was ranked #431 and Heather #351 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Clodagh was ranked #1036 and Heather #826 among girls in England and Wales.

Clodagh and Heather over time

Clodagh and Heather appear together in 3 published lists, across 102 years of shared records. Clodagh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Heather in 1.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Heather reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Clodagh 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.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Clodagh and Heather changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #47 and #325.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Clodagh rose about as far as Heather fell — from #149 and #167 in 1964 to #47 and #325 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Clodagh and Heather were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #47 and #325.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Clodagh #897 in 1997, Heather #78 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 19642025

    Clodagh held the stronger position in 60 of those years, Heather in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Clodagh #34 in 2009, Heather #83 in 2003.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Clodagh #47, Heather #325.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Clodagh held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Heather in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Clodagh #897 in 1997, Heather #78 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Clodagh #1036, Heather #826.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 19972007

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

    Highest recorded here: Clodagh #51 in 2004, Heather #166 in 2003.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2007: Clodagh #52, 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.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Clodagh, Heather
FieldClodaghHeather
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA place-derived name, taken from the River Clodiagh in County Waterford, rather than from a traditional Irish word root. Popularised as a personal name by Clodagh Beresford (1879-1957), daughter of the Marquess of Waterford.Not yet recorded
OriginIrishNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈkloʊdə/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 #47 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)65/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)74/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Clodagh has a recorded origin (Irish); Heather does not have one recorded yet.
  • Clodagh and Heather both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Clodagh; 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

Clodagh

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #149 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #47 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · 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 #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls