Girl name · Old English
Willow
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: willow treeWillow is a girl's name that comes from Old English and means "willow tree". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Willow tree
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #44 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Willow
As a girl's name, Willow comes from Old English and means "willow tree". It is used in English.
Its meaning puts Willow on our nature names list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Willow on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Willow on 7 lists.
“A graceful tree name for a calm, soft-eared bunny”
From Bunny names, the most popular rabbit names
“Graceful and calm, like the drooping tree”
From Cat names, nature cat names
“The graceful tree. No. 3 in Trupanion's 2025 list”
From Female cat names, most popular girl cat names
“Graceful and gentle like the tree”
From Girl dog names, flower and nature names for girl dogs
“Graceful waterside tree; Old English. Soft and flowing”
From Girl middle names, flower and nature middle names
“Gentle, graceful and calm in the field”
From Highland cattle names, cute Highland cow names
“English word name for the graceful waterside tree”
From Nature names, nature names for girls
How popular is Willow?
- US rank in 2025
- #44
- 4,763 babies, 2,963 per million girls
- Best rank
- #37 in 2022
- Most babies: 5,195 in 2021
- Babies since 1890
- At least 65,095
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 2 per million |
| 1900s | 14 per million |
| 1910s | 14 per million |
| 1920s | 21 per million |
| 1930s | 20 per million |
| 1940s | 12 per million |
| 1950s | 7 per million |
| 1960s | 8 per million |
| 1970s | 32 per million |
| 1980s | 20 per million |
| 1990s | 68 per million |
| 2000s | 326 per million |
| 2010s | 1,547 per million |
| 2020s | 2,967 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #96 | #80 | #60 | #45 | #48 | #39 | #37 | #41 | #41 | #44 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Willow
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- WillaResolute protector (Germanic, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- LauraLaurel tree (Latin, girl)
- OliviaOlive tree (Latin, girl)
- OliverOlive tree (Latin, boy)
- DaphneLaurel tree (Greek, girl)
- HadassahMyrtle tree (Hebrew, girl)
- IlanTree (Hebrew, boy)
- LindenLime tree (Old English, unisex)
- OliveTree of peace (Latin, girl)
- OlivierOlive tree (Latin, boy)
- YvonneYew tree (Germanic, girl)
Middle names for Willow
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Old English
- EdithRich in war (Old English, girl)
- StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
- AudreyNoble strength (Old English, girl)
- HarperHarp player (Old English, unisex)
- LindsayLincoln island (Old English, unisex)
- SundayDay of the sun (Old English, unisex)
- ÆlfflædElf beauty (Old English, girl)
- ÆlfgifuElf gift (Old English, girl)
- ÆlfthrythElf strength (Old English, girl)
- ÆlfwynnElf joy (Old English, girl)
Willow: common questions
What does the name Willow mean?
Willow comes from Old English and means "willow tree".
Is Willow a boy or girl name?
Willow is mainly a girl's name. In 2025, 4,763 girls and 23 boys in the US were named Willow, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Willow come from?
Willow comes from Old English and means "willow tree". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Willow?
Willow ranked #44 in the US in 2025, with 4,763 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Willow?
Names spelled like Willow include Willa.
What middle names go with Willow?
Middle names that flow well with Willow include Amber, Aoife, Esme, Hazel and Luna. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.