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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Heather / Erica?

32 replies

LouLucky · 28/08/2021 20:08

Thoughts on the names Erica and Heather?

I love Heather, but feel like Heather as a name might be a bit dated. Erica is Latin for heather, as well as being a Scandinavian name, meaning 'ruler'. I actually think it's quite pretty.

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Hadenoughofthisbullshit · 31/08/2021 08:30

Hebe*

Hadenoughofthisbullshit · 31/08/2021 08:26

Hebel how is that pronounced? Hebby or he-be?

Hadenoughofthisbullshit · 31/08/2021 08:25

Erica for me

RosesAndHellebores · 31/08/2021 08:25

There are also:

Hebe
Daphne
Myrtle
Hazel
Tansy

I prefer Heather to Erica but Hebe and Daphne to Heather; Hazel is on a par

peaceinourtime · 31/08/2021 08:20

Go for Heather of the two.

peppapigfangirl · 29/08/2021 12:37

I think Heather is so pretty.

Babydust13 · 29/08/2021 10:38

I love the name Erica

IVflytrap · 29/08/2021 08:49

I think they're both really nice names. Heather sounds softer, and has historically been a more common name in Britain than Erica has, so could be considered a little dated.
Erica is a bit livelier and also feels slightly more modern to me than Heather (although in other countries like the US, it's also probably a bit dated now).

I would find it hard to choose between the two, as they're both such nice names.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 29/08/2021 01:02

I really like the sound of Heather, very pretty - although yes it does feel slightly 70's/early 80's. Nothing wrong with Erica, although for some reason I find it a bit harsh sounding (maybe because I love Erik for boys which reminds me of Vikings!).

collywobble · 28/08/2021 22:27

Love the name Heather , my sister is Heather-Ann and it's such a soft and gentle sounding name although she does get called Trev by her children which is quite funny .

Givemethatknife · 28/08/2021 22:14

Much prefer Erica - very underused

user1493494961 · 28/08/2021 21:32

Prefer Erica.

LiveSimply · 28/08/2021 21:31

I really like Erica :)

Numbersarefun · 28/08/2021 21:20

My DD is Heather. She is never shortened to Hev (which I dislike). I sometimes call her Hetty for short. She’s 25 now!

Darthwader · 28/08/2021 21:17

I love Heather. Erica is harsh.

RiaOverTheRainbow · 28/08/2021 21:17

I really like both, slightly prefer Erica. Nicknames could be Hetty or Ricky if that makes any difference.

daisypond · 28/08/2021 21:14

I much prefer Erica. It’s a really strong name. I don’t like Heather at all.

tiredanddangerous · 28/08/2021 21:11

I have a family member who is a Heather. She gets called Hev a lot and she really hates it.

Ohsoquiiieeetttttt454333 · 28/08/2021 21:09

Also people always spell my name Erika 🙈🤣

Ohsoquiiieeetttttt454333 · 28/08/2021 21:08

I’ve name changed also to post on this…. I’m an Erica and it’s lovely that you want to call your DD that.. .. I’ve never come across that!

My mum got my name from the writer Erica jong, she wrote some favour interesting novels 🙈thanks mum for telling me that!

I’ve also a friend called heather, she’s lovely and full of warmth.

Both are fab names

AnotherHeather · 28/08/2021 21:04

I’ve NC specifically post on this thread. It’s a great name (but I may be biased). I think the main issue with the name Heather is that it is really difficult for anyone who doesn’t speak English as their first language to pronounce- it’s particularly the ‘th’ sound that non native English speakers find virtually impossible to say.

@AmigoingcrZy and now you’ve met another one.

Lou2120 · 28/08/2021 21:03

Prefer erica x

DramaAlpaca · 28/08/2021 20:56

I like both very much.

I slightly prefer the spelling Erika.

AmigoingcrZy · 28/08/2021 20:53

My name is Heather, and I have never had a problem with it. Though it often gets shortened to Hev which I used to ask people not to do but my partner did it and it became affectionate and now I dont correct anyone anymore. People are right, in my northern accent it is definitely pronounced Heva sometimes. Drives my mum mad as "that's not the name she gave me". I'm 26 and I've only ever met one other Heather too.

frazzledfragglefromfragglerock · 28/08/2021 20:49

I have a cousin called Erica, in my mind Erica is a strong caring woman so obviously I prefer it! I also like Heather though it's pretty!