Emily vs Heather
Emily 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, Emily was ranked #6 and Heather #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Emily was ranked #7 and Heather #351 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2007, Emily was ranked #11 and Heather #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Emily was ranked #24 and Heather #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emily was ranked #34 and Heather #826 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1983, Emily was ranked #47 and Heather #94 among girls in New Zealand.
Emily and Heather over time
Emily and Heather appear together in 3 published lists, across 102 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Heather in 0.
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 3 of those lists, and Emily 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 1973, Emily moved ahead of Heather in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #232 and #180 the year before became #184 and #207.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Emily rose about as far as Heather fell — from #180 and #167 in 1964 to #6 and #325 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Emily and Heather were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #6 and #325.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Emily held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Heather in 7.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2011, Heather #83 in 2003.
The order changed in 1973: Emily moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #232 and #180; by 1973 that had become #184 and #207.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emily #6, Heather #325.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emily held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Heather in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2003, Heather #78 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emily #34, Heather #826.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2007
Emily held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Heather in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #11 in 2007, Heather #166 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Emily #11, 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
| Field | Emily | Heather |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Rival, striving, eager (traditional interpretation of the Latin root). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛməli/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Em, Emmy, Emilie, Amelia, Aemilia | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Emily has a recorded origin (Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia); Heather does not have one recorded yet.
- Emily has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Heather.
- A meaning is recorded for Emily; Heather doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Emily a "high" Data Confidence level and Heather a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Emily
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #180 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
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #61 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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