The Meaning of Heather: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know what the word heather means? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word heather, including its meaning, usage, synonyms, origin, and more!

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What does the word heather mean?

According to Vocabulary, Collins English Dictionary, and the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the word heather can mean a few different things. First, heather is a flowering plant that famously grows in the Scottish Highlands. This plant is also known as the calluna vulgaris, Scots heather, broom and ling. This common Old World heath is represented in many varieties, and it is a low evergreen plant from the heath family grown in the northern hemisphere. Heather plants grow in wet, acidic, and otherwise inhospitable soil. These flowers are often white flowers or small purple or purplish-pink flowers. A sprig of white heather brush is a beautiful addition to a bouquet. This plant has spiky leaves, as do various heaths and Eurasian shrubs, with their small evergreen leaves. The Latin name of the plant is Ericaceae.

Heather is also a type of fabric pattern that is made with interwoven yarns of mixed colors. This often produces a muted greyish shade with flecks of color. However, this can also come in a purple colour or heather green, purple heather, or other solid colors and tints. Heather can also be used as an adjective in this case. Cotton turtlenecks might come in a heather color.

According to Song Meanings and Facts, Heather is also a song by Conan Gray, a social media star and musician who is popular on YouTube and TikTok. The song spurred a TikTok trend. The song is from the singer’s debut album Kid Krow and was produced by Dan Nigro and Jam City. The trending song is on Apple Music and other sources. People connect with the chorus of the song, and the themes of admiration. The lyrics to the song are below, from Genius. The song is about Heather, who Gray states is a “perfectly nice girl. She’s sweet and pure and smells like daisies, but I hate her.”

 I still remember the third of December, me in your sweater

 You said it looked better on me than it did you

 Only if you knew how much I liked you

 But I watch your eyes as she

 Walks by

 What a sight for sore eyes

 Brighter than the blue sky

 She’s got you mesmerised while I die

 Why would you ever kiss me?

 I’m not even half as pretty

 You gave her your sweater, it’s just polyester

 But you like her better

 Wish I were Heather

 Watch as she stands with her, holding your hand

 Put your arm ’round her shoulder, now I’m getting colder

 But how could I hate her, she’s such an angel

 But then again, kinda wish she were dead as she

 Walks by

 What a sight for sore eyes

 Brighter than the blue sky

 She’s got you mesmerised while I die

 Why would you ever kiss me?

 I’m not even half as pretty

 You gave her your sweater, it’s just polyester

 But you like her better

 I wish I were Heather

 Oh, I wish I were Heather

 Oh, oh, wish I were Heather

 Why would you ever kiss me?

 I’m not even half as pretty

 You gave her your sweater, it’s just polyester

 But you like her better

 Wish I were-

What is the origin of the word heather?

According to Etymonline, the word Heather comes from the Middle English hather and the Old English hǣddre, and has been sued since the early 14th century. As for the plant, its genus name, Calluna, stems from the Greek word kalluno. This plant grows in western and northern Europe, Turkey, and Morocco, and have been naturalized in parts of North America. Variants include hether, earlier hedder, hadder, hather, and hathir.

What are other girls’ names starting with the letter H?

Already have a daughter named Heather and looking for a name to match? Check out this list of baby girl names starting with the letter H from The Bump. The male equivalent of the name Heather is Heath. Heather has been used as a name since roughly the year 1935 in the United States, and was in the top 15 names from 1971 to 1989.

  • Hiroko
  •  Huynh
  •  Haili
  •  Hortensia
  •  Hebah
  •  Hiedi
  •  Harmonie
  •  Hillarie
  •  Hannya
  •  Hania
  •  Harita
  •  Harlie
  •  Honor
  •  Harrietta
  •  Heddie
  •  Heatherly
  •  Happy
  •  Haya
  •  Heba
  •  Haylie
  •  Haunani
  •  Honesty
  •  Henrietta
  •  Hydee
  •  Hubertine
  •  Hadassah
  •  Henna
  •  Hyun
  •  Hefziba
  •  Hazelle
  •  Helene
  •  Haeley
  •  Herma
  •  Hedwig
  •  Hanifa
  •  Heidemarie
  •  Heily
  •  Haylee
  •  Hemali
  •  Henryetta
  •  Hedwige
  •  Huong
  •  Honoria
  •  Hansika
  •  Hedi
  •  Hanna
  •  Hera
  •  Hermia
  •  Haely
  •  Hollyanne
  •  Harmoni
  •  Hiral
  •  Heidie
  •  Hesper
  •  Hanne
  •  Hajar
  •  Haze
  •  Hedda
  •  Hanalee
  •  Hattie
  •  Heidy
  •  Hermine
  •  Hassie
  •  Holley
  •  Holliann
  •  Hiliary
  •  Hildagarde
  •  Hallee
  •  Hiba
  •  Heida
  •  Harmoney
  •  Hope
  •  Harolyn
  •  Haroldene
  •  Heidi
  •  Hae
  •  Harleen
  •  Hollace
  •  Halyna
  •  Hailea
  •  Hellen
  •  Hee
  •  Heide
  •  Hedvig
  •  Haeli
  •  Halah
  •  Hang
  •  Hylda
  •  Haylea
  •  Hyon
  •  Hannelore
  •  Honey
  •  Hildreth
  •  Hana
  •  Harriet
  •  Hosanna
  •  Hasika
  •  Hero
  •  Henryka
  •  Hulda
  •  Hila
  •  Hollyn
  •  Hafsah
  •  Hether
  •  Hermina
  •  Hailley
  •  Hermione
  •  Hilma
  •  Hollye
  •  Honour
  •  Hisako
  •  Helenann
  •  Helaine
  •  Hameedah
  •  Heloisa
  •  Honora
  •  Huberta
  •  Hadiya
  •  Harriot
  •  Hilda
  •  Hafsa
  •  Hanni
  •  Hollie
  •  Hennie
  •  Holle
  •  Helaina
  •  Haleema
  •  Hillari
  •  Hetty
  •  Hadil
  •  Hellene
  •  Hildagard
  •  Hilaree
  •  Halleli
  •  Helena
  •  Halimah
  •  Ha
  •  Hertha
  •  Habiba
  •  Hristina
  •  Hildred
  •  Hailie
  •  Honorine
  •  Hortense
  •  Hughlene
  •  Hillory
  •  Hideko
  •  Halea
  •  Henrie
  •  Haydee
  •  Hye
  •  Harmonee
  •  Henrika
  •  Hanniah
  •  Helen
  •  Hinda
  •  Halima
  •  Hannia
  •  Huda
  •  Haelie
  •  Hatty
  •  Hokulani
  •  Hannah
  •  Heidiann
  •  Heatherlee
  •  Huguette
  •  Haniya
  •  Huldah
  •  Heleen
  •  Hina’ea
  •  Herta
  •  Hailee
  •  Hayat
  •  Hakima
  •  Halia
  •  Hermila
  •  Hawa
  •  Hildegarde
  •  Holli
  •  Helma
  •  Holly
  •  Heaven
  •  Hallelujah

Overall, the word heather can either refer to heather plants and heather flowers  or a heather pattern. This word for pinkish-purple flowers that grow in clusters of dense masses can also be used as a girls’ name.

Sources:

  1. heather – Dictionary Definition | Vocabulary 
  2. heather | Origin and meaning of heather | Online Etymology Dictionary 
  3. Conan Gray’s “Heather” Lyrics Meaning | Song Meanings and Facts
  4. Conan Gray – Heather Lyrics | Genius 
  5. Baby Girl Names That Start With H | The Bump