Holding steady, #340 for girls today.
Popularity of Heidi since 1929
Babies named Heidi per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 8 |
| 1930s | 183 |
| 1940s | 1,270 |
| 1950s | 10,218 |
| 1960s | 33,751 |
| 1970s | 42,219 |
| 1980s | 26,387 |
| 1990s | 10,798 |
| 2000s | 10,102 |
| 2010s | 9,259 |
| 2020s | 5,131 |
Meaning & origin
Heidi entered the U.S. naming scene relatively recently, with its first recorded appearance in 1929. The name saw a steady rise in popularity, reaching its peak in 1974 when it ranked as a top 50 name. In recent years, Heidi has maintained a stable position in the rankings; in 2025 it sits at rank 340, with approximately 1 in 1,798 newborn girls receiving the name. The name is particularly common in states like Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Arkansas. Its enduring appeal likely stems from the beloved literary character and its gentle, melodic sound.
Heidi originated as a Swiss German diminutive of Adelheid, the German form of Adelaide, which itself comes from the Old High German word 'adal' meaning 'noble.' The name was popularized internationally by Johanna Spyri's 1880 novel 'Heidi,' which tells the story of an orphaned girl living in the Swiss Alps. It became a common given name in the English-speaking world during the 20th century.
Where Heidi is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Heidi” around the world
Where Heidi lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
30
babies in 2024
Ireland
#91
in 2025
New Zealand
36
babies in 2025
Quebec
10
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Heids, Hedi
Sibling names for Heidi
Names that share Heidi's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Greta, Ingrid, Klara, Liesel, Marta, Becky, Anneliese, Gretchen, Trudi, Ilse, Liesl, Renate, Elsbeth, Hollee, Hollyann, Kathe, Liesa, Litzi, Fritzi, Grettel, Hether, Hiedi, Konni, Neidy, Leisel, Liese
Brothers: Hans, Klaus, Peter, Stefan, Max, Kurt, Fritz, Erich, Franz, Hansel, Reinhold, Rommel, Dieter, Even, Harden, Jahn, Jurgen, Tilman, Ulrich, Dietrick, Gerhart, Helmut, Detrich, Willi
Names like Heidi
Names whose popularity has moved with Heidi's over the last 50 years.
