Willow
Willow is a girls' name of English origin meaning “willow tree, graceful.” It ranked #44 in the United States in 2025. Willow refers to the graceful, drooping willow tree associated with resilience and flexibility.
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how do you pronounce Willow?
WIL-oh
where does the name Willow come from?
From the Old English welig, the willow tree, related to words meaning to bend or turn. The tree's defining quality is that it yields without breaking, which is precisely what the name is chosen for.
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith named their daughter Willow, and Buffy's Willow Rosenberg added pop culture cachet. It entered the top 30 in 2022.
how popular is this name?
Willow has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 28 years since 1998. It peaked at #37 in 2022, and ranked #44 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #44 |
| 2024 | #41 |
| 2023 | #41 |
| 2022 | #37 |
| 2021 | #39 |
| 2020 | #48 |
| 2019 | #45 |
| 2018 | #60 |
| 2017 | #80 |
| 2016 | #96 |
| 2010 | #288 |
| 2000 | #757 |
| 1998 | #852 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Willow fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Willow
The weeping willow carries associations of mourning across several traditions, and Desdemona sings the Willow Song shortly before her death in Othello. Willow bark also yielded salicin, the compound from which aspirin was synthesised in 1897. The name rose sharply from the 1990s and now sits in the American and British top twenty.
who are famous people named Willow?
- Willow Smith (American singer and actress)
- Willow Rosenberg (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
- Willow (1988 Ron Howard film)
what are the nicknames and variants of Willow?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Willow?
what names go well with Willow?
Sibling names that share Willow's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Willow
What does the name Willow mean?
Willow means “willow tree, graceful”.
What is the origin of the name Willow?
Willow comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Willowe and Wilo.
How popular is the name Willow?
Willow ranked #44 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2022, at #37, and it has spent 28 years in the top 1,000 since 1998.
Is Willow a boy or girl name?
Willow is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Willow?
Willow is pronounced WIL-oh, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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