Given name & surname
Willow
“of the willow tree”
Willow is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “from the willow tree; symbol of healing and grace” (English) and “of the willow tree” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “from the willow tree; symbol of healing and grace” (English) and “of the willow tree” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1890. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Willow through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 65,560
- 465 boys · 65,095 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 5,231 babies
- 2025
- 4,786
- #44 for girls · #4,530 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +25%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 4,763 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 44 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 24.6% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 23 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (273). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 33,715 as a first name in 2020; 931 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Willow’s family of names
In English usage, Willow has a diminutive in Will. Willow has a related form in Willo. Willow has a related form in Willoe.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Willow
- Willow SmithAmerican singer-songwriter and actress (born 2000)
- Willow ShieldsAmerican actressborn 2000
- Willow PillAmerican drag queenborn 1995
- Willow BayAmerican television journalist, editor, author, and former modelborn 1963
- Willow JohnsonCanadian voice actressborn 1977
- Willow HandAmerican modelborn 1998
- Willow KoerberAmerican mountain bikerborn 1977
Characters named Willow: Willow Rosenberg (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Willow, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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