Willow
Gender: Girl
Meaning: The willow tree; slender and graceful
Origin: Old English welig — the willow tree, long associated with grace, flexibility, and healing
Popularity: Ranked #44 in 2025 with 4,763 babies born.
History: Willow is a nature name with Old English roots — the weeping willow tree has long been a symbol of grace, flexibility, and resilience in adversity. The name gained early pop-culture visibility through the 1988 fantasy film Willow. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith naming their daughter Willow in 2000 gave it a significant celebrity boost, and daughter Willow Smith's own music career has kept it prominent. The name entered the U.S. top 50 in the 2010s and continues climbing, part of the broader wave of nature names that defines modern feminine naming.
Famous people named Willow: Willow Smith (singer/actress), Willow Rosenberg (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Name length: 6 letters
How common is Willow? About 1 in 695 babies born in 2025 were named Willow, or roughly 13.1 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Willow
What does the name Willow mean?
Willow means “The willow tree; slender and graceful” from Old English welig — the willow tree, long associated with grace, flexibility, and healing roots.
What is the origin of the name Willow?
Willow has Old English welig — the willow tree, long associated with grace, flexibility, and healing origin. The traditional meaning is “The willow tree; slender and graceful”.
How popular is Willow?
Willow ranked #44 in 2025 — given to 4,763 babies that year.
When was Willow most popular?
Willow peaked in 2021 with 5,193 babies registered that year.
Is Willow a boy or girl name?
Willow is predominantly a girls' name — over 90% of Willows in registered births are female.
How long has Willow been recorded?
Willow appears in birth records across 121 years — from 1890 through 2025.