Heath Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Heath is an Old English name meaning 'open land' or 'heathland', derived from the word 'hæþ'. The name has evolved from its Old English roots through Middle English to its current form. It is often associated with nature and ruggedness, and while it does not have biblical relevance, it gained popularity in the 20th century. Notable people with this name include Heath Ledger and Heath Bell.
The name Heath is most popular in South Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Heath has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Heath' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2987th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3442nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3294th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 250th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 406th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 758th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 910th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6624th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 11965th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 35406th out of 35406 names. Discover how the name 'Heath' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Heath"
Pronunciation
/hiːθ/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name 'Heath' originates from the Old English word 'hæþ', which refers to a tract of wasteland or heathland, an area characterized by open, uncultivated land covered with heather and low shrubs.
Meaning
open land, wasteland, heathland
Language Evolution
Old English: hæþ, Middle English: heath, Modern English: Heath
Historical Usage
The name Heath gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as both a given name and a surname.
Variants & Derivatives
Heatha, Heathcliff, Heathen
Modern Popularity & Image
Heath is considered a modern and somewhat nature-inspired name, often associated with a rugged or outdoorsy image.
Famous People
Heath Ledger, Heath Bell, Heath Miller
Explore More Heath Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Heath"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Heath"
"Heath" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2987th of 7545 | 123 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 3442nd of 6773 | 86 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3294th of 7552 | 117 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 250th of 10718 | 13,778 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 406th of 16616 | 8,099 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 758th of 24088 | 4,153 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 910th of 23106 | 2,912 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 6624th of 19264 | 108 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 11965th of 27321 | 68 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 35406th of 35406 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Heath" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
72.10% 1706th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
7.15% 210th/2937 |
8.07% 281st/3483 |
7.13% 251st/3518 |
7.47% 302nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
7.92% 292nd/3685 |
13.54% 606th/4475 |
6.64% 345th/5194 |
9.39% 593rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
15.95% 731st/4582 |
22.06% 1139th/5164 |
8.78% 642nd/7313 |
14.30% 1067th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
24.10% 960th/3984 |
22.73% 1020th/4487 |
13.21% 901st/6822 |
14.66% 920th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Heath" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Heath"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Heath" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.