Willow Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Willow is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Willow?
Willow is spelled W-I-L-L-O-W. The name has 6 letters.
Willow at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Willow refers to a type of deciduous tree or shrub known for its slender branches and elongated leaves.
- Origin
- The name Willow is derived from the English word referring to the willow tree, which has Old English and Germanic roots.
- Pronunciation
- WIL-oh · 2 syllables
Willow Popularity in 2025
Rank#44
Recorded Births4,763
Rank#4,396
Recorded Births23
- Girls usage fell 3 places to #44 and recorded 91 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 703 places to #4,396 and recorded 7 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Willow Mean?
Willow refers to a type of deciduous tree or shrub known for its slender branches and elongated leaves.
Origin: The name Willow is derived from the English word referring to the willow tree, which has Old English and Germanic roots.
How Do You Pronounce Willow?
PronunciationWIL-oh
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Willow?
- History
- Willow has been used as a given name primarily in English-speaking countries and has become more popular as a nature-inspired name in recent decades.
Willow Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 4,763 | #44 |
| 2025 | Boys | 23 | #4,396 |
| 2024 | Girls | 4,672 | #41 |
| 2024 | Boys | 30 | #3,693 |
| 2023 | Girls | 4,765 | #41 |
| 2023 | Boys | 48 | #2,693 |
| 2022 | Girls | 5,072 | #37 |
| 2022 | Boys | 39 | #3,100 |
| 2021 | Girls | 5,195 | #39 |
| 2021 | Boys | 36 | #3,242 |
| 2020 | Girls | 4,401 | #48 |
| 2020 | Boys | 19 | #4,855 |
| 2019 | Girls | 4,609 | #45 |
| 2019 | Boys | 27 | #3,899 |
| 2018 | Girls | 3,933 | #60 |
| 2018 | Boys | 27 | #3,891 |
| 2017 | Girls | 3,569 | #80 |
| 2017 | Boys | 13 | #6,338 |
| 2016 | Girls | 3,125 | #96 |
| 2016 | Boys | 17 | #5,318 |
| 2015 | Girls | 2,811 | #111 |
| 2015 | Boys | 15 | #5,746 |
| 2014 | Girls | 2,410 | #136 |
| 2014 | Boys | 15 | #5,733 |
When Was Willow Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2021 · Girls
5,195 recorded births
National rank #39
2022 · Girls
5,072 recorded births
National rank #37
2023 · Girls
4,765 recorded births
National rank #41
2025 · Girls
4,763 recorded births
National rank #44
Where Willow Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| WV | #5 | 61 |
| KY | #7 | 156 |
| MO | #8 | 183 |
| AR | #9 | 79 |
| TN | #10 | 197 |
| ME | #11 | 34 |
| OK | #12 | 97 |
| SD | #14 | 27 |