Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Willow
GirlEnglish· “willow tree”
- Meaning
- willow tree
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- WIH-loh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #44
- US babies 2025
- 4,763
- Best rank
- #37 (2022)
- Peak year
- 2021
Meaning and origin of Willow
Willow is an English name that means “willow tree”.
Willow is the English name of a family of trees known for their slender, drooping branches and their love of water, from Old English welig. Willows have long appeared in poetry and folklore as symbols of grace and of grief, and the weeping willow is a familiar sight beside rivers and ponds. As a given name, Willow belongs to the modern revival of nature names such as Hazel, Ivy and Juniper. It sounds soft and flowing, with a gentle ending, and it carries a sense of calm and resilience, since willows bend without breaking. Willa and Wills are possible nicknames.
Popularity over time
Willow first appears in US Social Security records in 1890. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 28 different years, starting in 1998. Its best national rank was #37 in 2022, and the most babies received it in 2021, when 5,195 were named Willow. In 2025, 4,763 babies were named Willow, and it ranked #44 nationally. That is 69% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #2,013 in 1920, #2,905 in 1950, #1,831 in 1980, #761 in 2000, #288 in 2010, and #44 in 2025. Of the 65,095 US girls named Willow since records began, 44% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 27,072 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Emilia, Nova, Leilani, Athena, and Everleigh.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Willow ranked highest in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | #5 | 61 |
| Kentucky | #7 | 156 |
| Missouri | #9 | 183 |
| Arkansas | #9 | 79 |
| Tennessee | #10 | 197 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Willow over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Willow is usually pronounced WIH-loh, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with W and ends in “-ow”.
Middle names for Willow
A few middle names that flow with Willow: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Willow
Similar names
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Lists that include Willow
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Willow mean?
Willow is an English name that means “willow tree”.
What is the origin of the name Willow?
Willow has English roots. Willow is the English name of a family of trees known for their slender, drooping branches and their love of water, from Old English welig.
Is Willow a popular name?
Yes. Willow ranked #44 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Willow a boy or girl name?
Willow is mainly a girl's name. About 99% of US babies named Willow over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Willow?
Willow is usually pronounced WIH-loh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings