Hannah vs Heather
Hannah 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, Hannah was ranked #8 and Heather #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Hannah was ranked #21 and Heather #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1983, Hannah was ranked #28 and Heather #94 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Hannah was ranked #60 and Heather #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Hannah was ranked #66 and Heather #351 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Hannah was ranked #107 and Heather #826 among girls in England and Wales.
Hannah and Heather over time
Hannah and Heather appear together in 3 published lists, across 102 years of shared records. Hannah held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Heather in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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
Hannah and Heather changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #21 and #325.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Hannah rose about as far as Heather fell — from #91 and #167 in 1964 to #21 and #325 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Hannah and Heather were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #21 and #325.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Hannah #6 in 1996, Heather #78 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Hannah held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Heather in 10.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #5 in 2019, Heather #83 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #21, Heather #325.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Hannah held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Heather in 0.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #6 in 1996, Heather #78 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hannah #107, Heather #826.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2007
Hannah held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Heather in 0.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #6 in 1998, Heather #166 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Hannah #8, 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 | Hannah | Heather |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'favour' or 'grace', referring to graciousness. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhænə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | 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 #21 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Hannah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Heather does not have one recorded yet.
- Hannah and Heather both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Hannah; Heather doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Hannah
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #91 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 recorded1978–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1978–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #73 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