The nameWillow
Willow is an English girl's name taken from the tree. It has climbed fast in Britain and the United States since the 2010s.
- Girl's name
- English
Meaning
Willow is the tree name, from the Old English welig. The willow is associated with water, grace and flexibility.
Origin
English, a modern nature name.
History
Willow was almost unused before the 1990s. The character Willow Rosenberg in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the singer Willow Smith made it known. It entered the American top 100 in 2016 and reached ninth place in England and Wales in 2023.
Famous people named Willow
- Willow Smith, singer
- Willow Sage Hart, singer
Popularity of the name Willow
Willow in the United States
Willow was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 27,227 births over the decade, 45% of all recorded babies named Willow. Its rise began around 2002, and it peaked in 2021. Half of all babies named Willow in the United States were born before 2018, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 4,848 births a year on average, against 3,628 in the five years before.
Willow in the United Kingdom
Willow was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 14,073 births over the decade, 50% of all recorded babies named Willow. Its rise began around 2004, and it peaked in 2021. Half of all babies named Willow in the United Kingdom were born before 2018, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 1,907 births a year.
Willow in Ireland
Willow in France
Sibling names for Willow
Names from the same generation as Willow, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Willow? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Willow with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Willow side by side with the name of your choice.
Willow in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Willow mean?
Willow is the tree name, from the Old English welig. The willow is associated with water, grace and flexibility.
What is the origin of the name Willow?
English, a modern nature name.
Is Willow a girl's or a boy's name?
Willow is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Willow?
In 2024, Willow was the 41st most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 4,653 births.
What are good sibling names for Willow?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Hazel, Ivy, June and Violet for a sister, Everett, Bennett, Rowan and Weston for a brother.
Who are famous people named Willow?
Willow Smith, singer; Willow Sage Hart, singer.