Willow
Meaningwillow tree · English
- US rank
- #44
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #37 in 2022
4,763 babies were named Willow in the US in 2025. It has climbed 4 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1890–2025
US births per million boys, 1924–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Willow you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Willow
Willow Smith
American singer-songwriter and actress (born 2000)
Choose Willow and your child shares a first name with Willow Smith, an American singer-songwriter and actress. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Willow, like who?” Willow Smith's Wikipedia article is available in 56 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Willow Smith on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: JD Sports, CC BY 3.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 337 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Willow, 4,763 babies in all. In a school of 500 kids, there'd probably be one other Willow.
- HistoryWillow first shows up in US birth records in 1890, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 135 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2022, when it reached #37.
- Then vs nowWillow is 18× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 6,035 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 337.
- Where it's lovedWillow is most popular in West Virginia, where it ranks #5, followed by Kentucky (#7) and Missouri (#8). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn English, Willow means “willow tree”.
About the name Willow
Willow is a girl name of English origin meaning “willow tree”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with W and ending in “-low”. US birth records list Willow for girls from 1890 to 2025, in 121 of those 136 years. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked #37 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #44, with 4,763 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 2.6 | 380,228 girls |
| 1900s | 13 | 75,700 girls |
| 1910s | 12 | 82,237 girls |
| 1920s | 21 | 47,304 girls |
| 1930s | 20 | 51,151 girls |
| 1940s | 12 | 81,633 girls |
| 1950s | 7.2 | 139,082 girls |
| 1960s | 7.7 | 130,719 girls |
| 1970s | 33 | 30,377 girls |
| 1980s | 20 | 49,677 girls |
| 1990s | 69 | 14,599 girls |
| 2000s | 325 | 3,077 girls |
| 2010s | 1,557 | 642 girls |
| 2020s | 2,966 | 337 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 0.9 | 1,132,075 boys |
| 1970s | 0.3 | 3,448,276 boys |
| 1990s | 2.2 | 450,450 boys |
| 2000s | 2.6 | 386,100 boys |
| 2010s | 8.8 | 113,895 boys |
| 2020s | 19 | 53,144 boys |
More English girl names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Unisex name: Harper · harp player
- Girl name: Elizabeth · God is my oath
- Girl name: Lily · lily flower
- Girl name: Lucy · light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Scarlett · scarlet red
Questions about the name Willow
What does the name Willow mean?
Willow means “willow tree” in English.
What is the origin of the name Willow?
Willow has English roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Harper.
Is Willow a boy or girl name?
Willow is a girl name, though a few boys get it too.
How popular is the name Willow?
Willow ranked #44 for US girls in 2025, given to 4,763 babies. Its best year was 2022 (#37).