Willow
Willow is a girls' name of English origin meaning “willow tree, graceful.” It ranked #25 in the United States in 2025. Willow refers to the graceful, drooping willow tree associated with resilience and flexibility.
how do you pronounce Willow?
WIL-oh
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Willow mean?
The name Willow means “willow tree, graceful.” It comes from the English language tradition.
Willow refers to the graceful, drooping willow tree associated with resilience and flexibility. 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.
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.
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.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #25 |
| 2023 | #27 |
| 2022 | #29 |
| 2021 | #39 |
| 2020 | #40 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Willow?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Willow?
- Willow Smith (American singer and actress)
- Willow Rosenberg (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
- Willow (1988 Ron Howard film)
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.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
love Willow? get 10 more names curated for your family.
Popularity rankings and meanings are just the starting point. Our AI consultant finds names that match your heritage, style, and what matters most to you.
Completely free. No credit card required.
start free consultation