Willow
2025 SSA
2025 SSA
About Willow
An ancient tree that figures in literature from Shakespeare to Harry Potter and is believed to possess magical powers, Willow is a lovely name, as graceful as its inspiration.
Willow for girls#44 US
Willow's use as a given name derives directly from the willow tree, whose name was derived from the Old English word welig, meaning "willow." Willow trees are associated with grace and elegance, which gave way to the adjective "willowy." Other names with meanings related to willows include Arava, Willoughby, Dozier, Wellesley, Selby, and Salton.
This elegant and charming nature name has been chosen for their daughters by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Michelle Monaghan and Pink. It's been a fast riser in recent years, climbing along with other Will names Willa, William and Will, having taken off here a year after the character of Willow was introduced on Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1997.
Willow is also popular in other English-speaking countries including Australia, Canada, Ireland, and Scotland. In 2023, it entered the Top 10 in England and Wales.
The name has transcended its one-time hippie aura to move into the realm of reappraised and appreciated nature names. The willow is believed by the Romani to possess the ability to heal the sick and rejuvenate the aged.
Pink was quoted as saying her choice was influenced by a willow tree she grew up near, and that it is the most flexible tree that nothing can break—no wind, no elements, it can bend and withstand anything.
Willow for boys#4530 US
Fresh and surprising on a boy – and how can you not love the cool classic nickname Will?
Pronounced WIL-oh.
As of October 2026, Willow ranked #44 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #37 in 2022, Nameberry popularity #99.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #136 | 2,410 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #111 | 2,811 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #96 | 3,124 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #80 | 3,569 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #60 | 3,933 | #3,986 | 27 |
| 2019 | #45 | 4,603 | #3,995 | 27 |
| 2020 | #48 | 4,396 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #39 | 5,193 | #3,290 | 36 |
| 2022 | #37 | 5,064 | #3,145 | 39 |
| 2023 | #41 | 4,761 | #2,731 | 48 |
| 2024 | #41 | 4,653 | #3,770 | 30 |
| 2025 | #44 | 4,763 | #4,530 | 23 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 40 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Willow.
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Willow on lists
Famous Willows
- Kristine Carlin "Willow" BayGirl
American television journalist
- Willow ShieldsGirl
American actress; twin sister Autumn Shields
- Willow GeerGirl
Alsop, American actress
- Willow ShefferGirl
daughter of actors Gabrielle Anwar and Craig Sheffer
- Willow Bianca Faye PalinGirl
daughter of U.S. politician Sarah Palin
- Willow Camille Reign SmithGirl
American actress/singer, daughter of actors Will & Jada Pinkett Smith
- Willow McCarthy (b. 2007)Girl
daughter of actor Andrew McCarthy
- Willow Katherine White (b. 2008)Girl
daughter of actress Michelle Monaghan and Peter White
- Willow Rose Owen (b. 2008)Girl
daughter of singer Mark Owen of Take That and Emma Ferguson
- Willow Stevens (b. 2009)Girl
daughter of actor Dan Stevens and singer Susie Hariet
- Willow Lenora Herschenfeld (b. 2009)Girl
daughter of actress Alicia Minshew and Richie Herschenfeld
- Willow Rose McGuinness (b. 2009)Girl
daughter of TV presenter Amanda Lamb and Sean McGuinness
- Willow Sage Hart (b. 2011)Girl
daughter of singer Pink and Carey Hart
- Willow Jade Ford (b. 2012)Girl
daughter of actress Holly Brisley and Paul Ford
- Willow Grace Simpson (b. 2012)Girl
daughter of golfer Webb Simpson
- Willow Grace Radke (b. 2013)Girl
daughter of singer Ronnie Radke
- Willow Phoenix Buckley (b. 2014)Girl
daughter of actor A..J. Buckley
- Willow Landau (b. 2016)Girl
daughter of actress Cheyenne Jackson and Jason Landau; twin of brother Ethan
- Willow Hammond (b. 2003)Girl
daughter of English television presenter Richard Hammond
Willow in pop culture
- Willow Danielle RosenbergGirl
character on The WB's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
- Willow UfgoodGirl
male character in 1988 fantasy film "Willow"
- Willow LyndGirl
character in video game "The Sims 3" Moonlight Bay
- Willow WoodwardGirl
character in film "The Wicker Man"
- Willow StarkGirl
character on American soap "Days of Our Lives"
- WillowGirl
character in Dreadstar comics
- WillowGirl
character in "Diamond Willow" by Helen Frost
- Grandmother WillowGirl
tree character in Disney's "Pocahontas"
- WillowGirl
character on Bonanza episode "The Spitfire"
- Willow CruzGirl
character on TV's "Liv and Maddie"
- The Whomping WillowGirl
a valuable and very violent magical plant in the Harry Potter series
- Willow MooreGirl
character in the Addicted Series
- WillowGirl
character from video game "Don't Starve"
- Willow FieldsGirl
half,angel main character of the "Angel" series by L. A. Weatherly
- Willow ChanceGirl
protagonist of "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan
- Willow HaverfordGirl
protagonist of "Spells for Lost Things" by Jenna Evans Welch
- WillowGirl
character from the series "Wings of Fire" by Tui T. Sutherland
- "willow"Girl
song by Taylor Swift
- Willow ParkGirl
character from the animated show "The Owl House"
- Sir Callie and the Champions of HelstonBoy
Prince Willow
Variations & nicknames
- WilloGirl
- WilloughGirl
- WilloughbyGirl