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At a Glance: Name: Willow – Meaning: named for the willow tree – Origin: English – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: WIL-oh
Willow is an English name, pronounced WIL-oh (/ˈwɪloʊ/), that refers directly to the willow tree. You may have come across the idea that it means 'graceful' or symbolizes freedom and flexibility, but that's really just a symbolic association people make with the tree — the name itself simply names the tree, nothing more. It's a classic name with a free-spirited, boho, bold, outdoorsy, nature-inspired feel.
Meaning & Origin of Willow
Meaning: Named for the willow tree.
Origin: English.
A common claim: Popularly described as meaning 'graceful' or 'slender,' symbolizing freedom and flexibility. Actually: Those are symbolic associations with the tree, not the name's etymology — Willow simply refers to the willow tree, with no attested deeper meaning of 'graceful' or 'freedom.'
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Willow
Phonetic: WIL-oh IPA: /ˈwɪloʊ/
Popularity of Willow
SSA records for Willow go back to 1890, and in 2024 it ranked #41 with 4,653 girls given the name, not far off its peak of #37 in 2022, when 5,064 girls received it.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1890–2024.
Make Willow Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Willow, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Willow mean?
Named for the willow tree. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Willow)
How do you pronounce Willow?
Willow is pronounced WIL-oh (IPA: /ˈwɪloʊ/).
Is Willow a popular name right now?
Willow is near its all-time peak (#37 in 2022), ranked #41 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1890–2024.)
📊 How popular is Willow? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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