Willow
Willow is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Willow tree; derived from the Old English 'welig', signifying grace and resilience.
Origin and history
Willow is an English nature name derived from the Old English word for the willow tree, long associated with grace and flexibility. Historically rare, the name experienced a rapid rise in popularity in the United States starting in the late 1990s. Today, it stands as a well-established modern classic among botanical names for girls.
Popularity in the United States
65,095 babies in the United States have been named Willow since 1880. It ranks #506 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #41.
States where it is most popular
- CA (6.6 %)
- TX (5.9 %)
- OH (5.1 %)
- PA (4.6 %)
- FL (4.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 5 |
| 1900-1910 | 40 |
| 1910-1920 | 111 |
| 1920-1930 | 252 |
| 1930-1940 | 208 |
| 1940-1950 | 175 |
| 1950-1960 | 138 |
| 1960-1970 | 139 |
| 1970-1980 | 502 |
| 1980-1990 | 344 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,217 |
| 2000-2010 | 6,024 |
| 2010-2019 | 27,072 |
| 2020-2029 | 28,868 |
Famous people named Willow
- Willow Smith: Singer, Actress
- Willow Shields: Actress
- Willow Bay: Journalist, Author
Nicknames
Lo, Wills
Fun facts
- The name comes directly from the Old English word 'welig', related to the word 'lithe', reflecting the tree's pliant branches.
- The name gained initial modern visibility in the late 1990s via the popular television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
- Willow entered the top 50 U.S. female names in the 2020s, driven by a broader preference for nature-inspired names.