The tragic passing of a Hollywood leading man put this name squarely in the spotlight.
Thanks to Bek for suggesting Heath as Name of the Day.
Heath could easily be a brother for Willow or Brooke. He’s one of the few nature names with a decidedly masculine bent. You can find heathland in England and California, Chile and Australia. Unless you’re a resident of Antarctica, you’ve probably seen a heath. The word evolved from the Old English hæð, which has a meaning closer to wasteland, but a heath is actually quite pretty.
The given name does indeed trace back to the habitat. People who lived near a heath took it as a last name, and it is still in use today. Just like any surname, it was sometimes bestowed as a given name.
Heath might’ve remained firmly in the surname spot, save for the television Western Big Valley. While we often think of surf boards and peace signs, the 1960s were also good to Stetsons and cowboy boots, at least on television.
Big Valley featured a young Lee Majors playing Heath Barkley, the illegitimate half-brother hungry for acceptance. Barbara Stanwyk was iron-willed widow Victoria, mother to Jarrod, Nick and Audra (a young Linda Evans!) Despite Heath’s status, he eventually became one of the Barkley clan.
The show may have been set in nineteenth century California, but it had an impact on 20th century parents throughout the US. Big Valley debuted on ABC in 1965. By 1966, Heath was the 359th most popular name for newborn baby boys. By 1974 – five years after Big Valley left the air – Heath peaked at #181.
There had been a handful of Heaths prior to the 1960s, like Heath MacQuarrie, the Canadian politician and writer. MacQuarrie named his firstborn daughter Heather. While it isn’t clear if heath and heather evolved from the same roots, the popularity of Heather might’ve influenced Heath’s rise, too. Heather peaked at about the same time, reaching #3 in 1975.
Heath also has a sweetness to him. A Heath bar consists of milk chocolate over toffee. The name comes from school teacher/candy entrepreneur Paul Heath Brickenden. Back in 1913, he bought a confectionary for his two sons to manage. The boys expanded the business to include a manufacturing operation and eventually a dairy, too. Heath English Toffee was added to their line up in 1928. If you were lucky enough to live within range of their dairy, you could get candy delivered along with your milk and butter.
Ben & Jerry’s used Heath bar in their ice cream from the 1970s on, and you can still buy Coffee Heath Bar Crunch in your grocery store today.
But it is Hollywood that might boost Heath’s use going forward. After peaking at #181 in 1974, Heath’s use fell steadily. By 2007, he ranked a mere #905. Australian actor Heath Ledger’s popularity buoyed the name slightly in the early 2000s, but his posthumous Academy Award-winning portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight has kept his name much in mind these days.
Overall, Heath fits nicely into current trends – a nature name with a cowboy twist, sort of a middle ground between River and Wyatt. Factor in his red carpet cred and the fact that you’ll have a ready-made favor to hand out at his first birthday bash? Heath is certainly one to consider.
I like Heath! Strong and masculine sounding without being overdone. Hopefully the association with Heath Ledger will not end the use of this one.
Aww, I like Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla Heath Bar Crunch!
Heath’s one of three or four nature names for boys I really like (Jasper, Garnet, Reed & Heath). Heath Ledger didn’t hurt the name any for me amd while I’m old enough to remember “Big Valley”, I was young enough to not really pay attention to it very much.
I really dislike the related Heather though. Maybe becuase I loved through an infestation of them and have only met 1 lovely Heather. The rest have been terrors. (my apologies to any Heathers out there, I just haven’t met you yet, so the bad ones color my judgement)
But Heath is open, airy and sweepingly charming. I love the candy and if I didn’t think Ken would laugh at me for suggestiong my favorite candy bar as a name for our son… well, I’d use it myself. As is, I’ll have to hope I run into a few little ones named Heath, belonging to someone else. I really, REALLY like Heath!
hey! you forgot heathcliff in emily brontë’s wuthering heights…
i think heath ledger was actually named after the character
I did! Oh my goodness, you’re right. *Blushes.* Thanks for mentioning my oversight! Was he really named after the character? That’s interesting.
I think I’ve read that both he and his sister (who is Kate), were named for the characters… Interesting, no?
Heath is very attractive, and unmistakeably masculine. I have known several people who seem to favor 1-syllable names, and Heath would make an outstanding choice. I have one girlfriend w/ sons named Brock and Dean, and another w/ (daughter) Reese and (son) Cale.
thank you, thank you, Verity!
I adore Heath. One of our top contenders this go-around. I can’t even articulate what it is that I love so much, except to say that I love the mossy, breezy, handsome feel of the name. It just feels comfortable, if that makes sense.
Funny how I can’t stand Heathcliff – that cliff makes all the difference
You’re welcome, Bek. I like him quite a bit, too. My dear mother is a HUGE fan of old Westerns. (Really.) So I could never really name a kid Heath – or any of the other names used by Bonanza/Gunsmoke/Big Valley/etc. Because even though they were before my time, I know them all by heart. (I guess it must be said that Barbara Stanwyk was fabulous in Big Valley. She was so tough, in an era when most women on television were still wielding feather dusters.)
But it is too bad that we couldn’t use him, because Heath rocks! And Wrenn, I suspect that Heath Ledger might boost the name. Maybe.
Lola, I think my reaction to Heather might also have something to do with how very, very popular the name was – it always makes me think of the Winona Ryder/Christian Slater movie – the original Mean Girls!
Yeah, I’ve never watched those old Westerns, so I’ve got no reference… but it doesn’t bother me that others do. I was mostly nervous the young death of Heath Ledger would make using the name now seem a little too celeb, but it seems that a lot of the fervor died down after awards season.
Ah – Heath is one of few 1-syllable boys names I rather like. He’s strong and masculine, yet sounds very kind, with the breathy ‘th’ at the end.
Heath Ledger & Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights (my favourite!) are equally my first thought when I hear the name, neither of which are bad references, despite the tragedy behind them.
I’d be absolutely charmed to meet a little Heath!
We were trying for baby # 3, but miscarried. So we will try again. Heath was our top boy name. We too must love one syllable boy names since we already have a Blake and Grant.
Some other people commented that they love how Heath is a nature name. One person even called it mossy like. Well, our last name is Moss. Would the name Heath Moss be over the top?