Is Heather too dated?

I’ve always had a sort of likeness towards [name_f]Heather[/name_f], I’ve always liked the sound of it and I love how it feels feminine and it’s more of a subtle flower name (as opposed to [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], etc), but, is it too dated? I only know of two [name_f]Heather[/name_f]'s, one is my age, one is 2 years older than I am, so I haven’t really got an accurate idea on how old the name is.

Is [name_f]Heather[/name_f] too dated to work on a little girl? Does it work with names like [name_f]Olive[/name_f], [name_f]Florence[/name_f], [name_f]Nora[/name_f], & [name_f]Martha[/name_f]?

I know a young [name_f]Heather[/name_f] - she’s 12. I really like the idea of it, the plant is so beautiful and reminds me of home, and it’s sound is really sweet.

But I do think it’s dated; I know several middle aged women with the name. I also immediately think of the film (which is TOTALLY a great association but just adds to it’s dated-ness). Although honestly I see [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] in exactly the same light but that hasn’t stopped it being super trendy on NB.

I can see [name_f]Heather[/name_f] with [name_f]Nora[/name_f]/[name_f]Olive[/name_f], but [name_f]Florence[/name_f] and [name_f]Martha[/name_f] feel too popular/trendy.

I don’t think its TOO dated, but it definitely seems 80s to me. There is a little girl in my son’s preschool class named [name_u]Courtney[/name_u] (which I think is a similar era to [name_f]Heather[/name_f]), and when I hear it I think “her mom must have loved that name in high school”, but its not the end of the world. I think [name_f]Heather[/name_f] would have the same effect for a lot of people. If you love it, go for it, but you run the risk of people missing the flower association in favor of the 80s airhead.

To me it’s an 80s name & the movie Heathers used it as the popular girl name of that generation.

But I also see fields of heather & it is beautiful in that way. I put it in the same category as [name_f]Amber[/name_f] (and [name_f]Dawn[/name_f] & [name_u]Robin[/name_u], but they’re 70s). Nature inspired & pretty, but dated to that time. Honestly, I think they could all be fresh on the right little one with a really nice 2014 middle.

I have a friend called [name_f]Heather[/name_f] who’s my age (actually only a few days younger), so it doesn’t feel dated to me. It’s a nice name, although it’s nms.

I like [name_f]Heather[/name_f]! And as tararyaz said, if you combine it with a 2014 middle, it will be really nice.

For example,
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Amelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]

This is how I associate it. I can think of at least 6 [name_f]Heather[/name_f]'s in my graduating class (born 1980)…

Oooh I love [name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Amelia[/name_f]! I was also thinking up a few combinations, so with it as a first name, some as a middle:

[name_f]Sophie[/name_f] [name_f]Heather[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Arabella[/name_f]
[name_f]Jemima[/name_f] [name_f]Heather[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Imogen[/name_f]
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f] [name_f]Heather[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Delilah[/name_f]
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Heather[/name_f]/[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Marina[/name_f]

are any of these balanced enough to use?

[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] was one of the exact combos I was thinking of when I said “2014 middle”! [name_m]How[/name_m] crazy is that!

[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] is nice! Also…

[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Serafina[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u] (too naturey?)
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] Wordname (like [name_m]Arrow[/name_m], [name_u]North[/name_u], [name_u]Lyric[/name_u], just be careful of anything that brings it into stripper territory. [name_u]Bliss[/name_u] & [name_u]Angel[/name_u] for example don’t work here.)
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] Placename ([name_f]Astoria[/name_f], [name_f]Marietta[/name_f], [name_f]Virginia[/name_f], again steer clear of anything like [name_f]Savanna[/name_f] or [name_u]Brooklyn[/name_u] that can veer it down that kind of path.)
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] Surnamename (Family significance rules here. [name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_m]Cambell[/name_m] or [name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_u]Ripley[/name_u] come to mind as examples of how well this sounds.)

I love [name_f]Heather[/name_f]. It’s my mum’s name but I also know several young girls, ranging from aged 2 to 18 with the name. I plan to use it as a middle name myself.

I have always liked it…and don’t think it’s too old. Reminds me of [name_m]Matt[/name_m]'s girlfriend on 7th [name_f]Heaven[/name_f] lol. I think it would be adorable on a little girl and would grow with her. [name_f]Heather[/name_f] is a name that should never be forgotten [name_f]IMO[/name_f].

I do think it is too dated. I know 3 [name_f]Heather[/name_f]'s in their 30’s and then when my older daughter was about 1 I met a baby [name_f]Heather[/name_f] @ Gymboree class (so she would be around 6 now) and I remember my friend and I talking about how it was strange to meet a baby [name_f]Heather[/name_f] and that the mom must have loved the name since she was in high school. The name sounded very dated compared with the other little ones but on the plus side she is still the only [name_f]Heather[/name_f] under 30 I have come across so her name probably isn’t very popular with her peer group.

@tararyaz - thank you! [name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] is gorgeous! There aren’t any surnames I like on girls, but [name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Virginia[/name_f] is nice! :slight_smile: A few others I thought of:

[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Alessandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Augusta[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f] [name_f]Melisande[/name_f]

I think it is alittle dated but it is a pretty name that I would like to see make a come back. I had a friend name her baby [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] last year which I thought was a different choice for nowadays. I think [name_f]Heather[/name_f] is kinda in the same time frame as [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] to me.

I wouldn’t hesitate to use Heather. I think its a beautiful name and I immediately associate it with the plant & the Irish trad song “Wild Mountain Thyme” which is beautiful! Sure there was a movie in the 80s - who cares? That was like 30 years ago, I think most people are over it by now.
I agree though about pairing it with a modern name.

Side note: There was a Heather in my school when I was a kid & she was really mean so I called her Heather Feather Fruit Leather.
Also my brother once convinced me I had a second middle name and that it was Heather. Childhood shenanigans.

I don’t think it’s dated it could have been my mums name she was born in 72 but her cousin was named [name_f]Heather[/name_f]. I think it suits any age

[name_f]Heather[/name_f] is VERY dated to me. I can’t see it on a modern-day baby girl.

I don’t think it is the most dated name, but with your other names like [name_f]Florence[/name_f] & [name_f]Olive[/name_f] & [name_f]Nora[/name_f] which are all vintage and coming back into fashion, [name_f]Heather[/name_f] feels too 80s. I think [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] would fit much better in the sibset. I’m not sure if you like [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] or not, but I’ll make the suggestion anyway.
Personally, I have a bad experience with [name_f]Heather[/name_f] so I don’t really like it anyway. If you really like it though, you should put it on your list. I’ve gotten tons of comments on how [name_m]Jason[/name_m] & [name_f]Cassandra[/name_f] are so dated, but I’ve loved these names forever, so they stay. If you like it, that is all that matters.

I don’t think it is at all dated and I don’t think it is 80’s. I have a friend who is 21-22 with the name and it suits her well, I think it is one of them names that suits all ages and it’s more unusual now than dated.