Is Heather a "trashy" name?

anna12 · March 2012

DH loves the name Heather, and I'm sort of surprised that I like it too. That said, I am also aware that Freakonoics listed it as one of the "whitest" names (in 2005!) and associated it with lower-income, less educated families.

What do you all think? All the Heathers that I know are well-educated and successful, but I'm curious to know if there is still a stigma with the name?

ames71 · March 2012

I have positive associations with the name, but to me, I think it's time has passed. I lump it in with names like Lindsay, Jennifer and Danielle. Maybe in a couple generations those will feel new again. Now they're kind of boring to me.

schnappycat · March 2012

Yes, I admit I always thought it was a little lower class sounding, honestly. But more than that, I feel it's very dated.

starsjaime · March 2012

Not trashy, just dated and boring. Maybe in another 70 years!

alliejo725 · March 2012

I've never thought of Heather as having a "stigma." I suppose every Heather I've known has been from a white, lower-class family, but I don't automatically associate the name with "trashiness."

Like PP said, it's dated, not really trashy. Freakonomics is a nice resource, but it's not the Bible. If you like the name Heather, use it. It's a legitimate name and there's nothing inherently wrong with it.

austenreader85 · March 2012

Ditto that it's dated. I haven't read the book, but I don't have that experience with the name. It might be pretty "white" but I don't think it's trashy.

Cranang · March 2012

ames17:
I have positive associations with the name, but to me, I think it's time has passed. I lump it in with names like Lindsay, Jennifer and Danielle. Maybe in a couple generations those will feel new again. Now they're kind of boring to me.

This exactly.

HAFranklin · March 2012

Well, it's my name, so obviously I don't think it is trashy. I think of it more as another popular 70s/80s name along the lines of Jennifer. I've actually had a lot of people assume I was a snooty little rich girl based on my name alone. (Like the girls in the movie "Heathers")

That said, I know 3 Heathers under the age of 14. My god-daughter who is 13, and 2 friends with DDs...one is 11, the other is 4. I've also seen it on the Bump more and more lately as a middle name.

Allycat11 · March 2012

alliejo725:

I've never thought of Heather as having a "stigma." I suppose every Heather I've known has been from a white, lower-class family, but I don't automatically associate the name with "trashiness."

Like PP said, it's dated, not really trashy. Freakonomics is a nice resource, but it's not the Bible. If you like the name Heather, use it. It's a legitimate name and there's nothing inherently wrong with it.

All of this. Now that I think about it, the ones I know are from lower-class white families...and I have bad personal associations with the name. So, I personally wouldn't use it.

I definitely think it is a dated name as PPs stated.

LisaG09 · March 2012

I only know one Heather and we've been best friends since 1st grade. She comes from a middle class family and is smart and educated nothing trashy there. I think it is a beautiful flower name that has recently been overlooked. I think it is lovely.

blush64 · March 2012

anna12:

DH loves the name Heather, and I'm sort of surprised that I like it too. That said, I am also aware that Freakonoics listed it as one of the "whitest" names (in 2005!) and associated it with lower-income, less educated families.

What do you all think? All the Heathers that I know are well-educated and successful, but I'm curious to know if there is still a stigma with the name?

When I read this I thought exactly this. All of the Heathers I know are very intelligent and successful.

JMU_Bride09 · March 2012

I don't think it's trashy at all, and I disagree that it's dated. It definitely was popular in the 80s and 90s, but, to me at least, I see it as timeless. I like it, and your baby will most likely not have to share her name with any of her classmates.

hmr22 · March 2012

As it is my name I have never really thought of it being trashy, that being said I have never liked it.

Chelscole · March 2012

Personally I would say yes. At least in my expirence but I also think it is dated but if you like it then that is all that matters.

velvetskyy · March 2012

I wouldn't necessarily call it trashy, but itns nms. I have met plenty of girls named heather that were well educated (albeit in sororities, but take that as you will) Wink

sadie8900 · March 2012

I like the name

If you love it, I wouldn't let a dated or trashy stigma bother you because a), as pp said, it doesn't feel trashy to me! and b) it is a legit, properly spelt and nice name, so I'd rather see something like that which is a bit dated then an tryendeigh new name!

karen_loy · March 2012

Not trashy, but dated and a bit boring

tatercater · March 2012

Every Heather I've ever known has been nice, smart, and fun!

But I do think it's a 70s-80s name.

Bluebird2318 · March 2012

Not trashy at all, though I do agree with those who feel like it sounds dated. It's NMS, though I do think it's a nice name. I just really wouldn't use it for myself because it's the name of one of DF's exes (and we all know that ex- names are no-no's).

kelle017 · March 2012

austenreader85:
Ditto that it's dated. I haven't read the book, but I don't have that experience with the name. It might be pretty "white" but I don't think it's trashy.

This.

alohamora · March 2012

I've known a lot of Heathers, and I would say that they ran the gamut of intelligent, well-off, middle-class, and trashy.

BLPL101 · March 2012

It's not trashy at all to me. It's a bit dated, but not in bad way! I would love to meet a little baby named Heather.

Saltina11 · March 2012

A Heather I went to HS with was a huge, huge b!tch so never been a fan.

And it screams 80s to me.

PhilsWife07 · March 2012

I don't think it's very "current," but I don't consider it trashy. All of the Heathers I've ever known were pretty classy, actually.

g8trkim · March 2012

I don't really think it's trashy but it's definitely dated.

kenldav · March 2012

I agree with pp...sounds dated and reminds me of someone in the 80's with big hair!

laurakaz13 · March 2012

No. Not trashy. But it is from the 70s!

FrecklesInside · March 2012

Very white name and certainly dated, but not trashy...

stever · March 2012

My name is Heather, I have a MA, my mom has a MBA and my dad has a PhD. But we are white, so I guess that part of the theory holds true.

sweetjay6891 · March 2012

Based on who I know with the name, Trashy.

1.)Mormon, Sex-A-Holic living in a trailer in Nevada.

1.)Skinhead/Racist White Trash living in the basement of great-grandparents with 5 kids. Father in prison. Living on welfare.

Those are the only Heathers I know.

LadyXaverian · March 2012

Dated but not trashy. Pretty and I'd put money on it making a comeback at some point.

I teach a Heather who is 13 years old.

JustHyr · March 2012

My name is Heather. I just think of it as a popular 80's name. That's why I'm very anti-top 100 baby names. I hated having such a popular name growing up.

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