Willow
First Name Meaning, Usage, Popularity & Related Names
Willow is an English name meaning “willow tree”. It is a popular name, overwhelmingly used for girls, with 99.81% female usage.
Meaning & Origin of the name Willow
Willow is a name of English origin taken from the name of the tree species belonging to the genus Salix. The term derives from the Old Englishwelig, which describes the flexible, resilient branches characteristic of the plant. Its emergence as a personal name reflects the cultural practice of incorporating botanical imagery into contemporary naming traditions.
Meaning Comments
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Gender Usage of the Name Willow
Overall Gender Classification Methodology
Willow is overwhelmingly used as a name for girls. Approximately 99.81% of recorded bearers are female. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.
Popularity of the Name Willow
Willow is among the Top 91 Trending Girls’ name in Canada for 2025
Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.
Overall PopularityMethodology
Willow is listed under Popular Girl Names worldwide. Its popularity is relatively consistent across the available regional markets.
| Region | Popularity | Birth Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Popular | 1 in every 929 births |
| United Kingdom | Popular | 1 in every 1.4K births |
| Canada | Popular | 1 in every 1.4K births |
| Australia | Popular | 1 in every 177 births |
Ranking OverviewMethodology
Willow ranked #41 on the Popular Girls’ Names Worldwide List (2025). It fell from #26 in 2024 — a drop of 15 places. A widely recognized choice, Willow has maintained a steady Top-100 presence.
Historically, its best recorded position was #14 in 2021. Its lowest recorded position was #5,603 in 1985. Over the last 5 years (2020–2025) the name fell -21 places (from #20 to #41).
Characteristics of the Name Willow
Pronunciation & StructureMethodology
- Phonetic Source
- CMU
- Syllables
- 2 syllables — Two-Syllable Girl Names
- Length
- 6 letters — Medium-Length Girl Names
- Starts with
- W — Girl Names Starting with W
- Ends with
- w — Girl Names Ending in “w”
Name AestheticMethodology
Willow possesses two syllables that culminate in a gentle, vowel-focused finish. The name is central to the high-fantasy narrative of the film Willow directed by Ron Howard. These factors result in a clear Ethereal & Fantasy aesthetic.
Middle Names For Willow
Middle names used with WillowMethodology
Willow is most frequently used with these girl middle names: Willow Grace · Willow Mae · Willow Elizabeth · Willow Rose · Willow MarieView all 93 girl middle names.
- Total 121 middle names used with Willow
- 5 boy middle names used with Willow
- 21 unisex middle names used with Willow
Middle name suggestions for WillowMethodology
Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Willow is most frequently associated with girl middle names that have Strong stress pattern and 5 letters.
Examples: Willow Leigh · Willow Grace · Willow Smith · Willow Lynne · Willow Jones. View all 1,654 suggested middle names.
Associations of the Name Willow
Flower AssociationsMethodology
As one of the Flower-Inspired Girl Names, Willow appears as part of the common names of 69 flower species, including:
- Willow Ragwort (Barkleyanthus salicifolius (Kunth) H.Rob. & Brettell) — Asteraceae
- Willow-leaved Yellow-oxeye (Buphthalmum salicifolium L.) — Asteraceae
Tree AssociationsMethodology
The name Willow, one of the Tree-Inspired Girl Names, appears as part of the common names of 413 plant species, including:
- Willow (Salix L.) — Salicaceae
- Brittle Willow (Salix euxina I.V.Belyaeva) — Salicaceae
Additional Natural MatchesMethodology
The complete dataset includes 641 biological records matching the name Willow. Browse all matching records with their scientific names and taxonomic details.
Names Similar to Willow
Sound Like Willow Finder
Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Willa · Willia · Willo · View all 12 names
Spelled Like Willow Finder
Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Willo · Willoh · Willoe · View all 4 names
Same Starting Sound Finder
Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: Wendy · Wanda · Juanita · View all Top 100 names
Rhymes With Willow Finder
Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Jo · Cleo · Margot · View all Top 100 names
Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder
Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: Darlene · Arlene · Marlene · View all Top 100 names
Dictionary & Etymology of “Willow”
Dictionary Meaning of "Willow"Methodology
A female given name from English of modern usage
Examples
- Before he died her father had run a nursery just outside the town. He loved trees so much he'd even named his two daughters and one son after them: Willow, Ashley and Oak.
A census-designated place in Alaska
A town in Oklahoma
A town in Wisconsin
More Info
How to Spell Willow in ASL
- W
- i
- l
- l
- o
- w
Comments on the name Willow
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