The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Willow!

Comments and insights on the name Willow: | Edit

Majestic (almost magical) and sweet name usually picked out by families who love nature. Not just plants and trees; but also animals... Designates a strong lady, as beautiful and resilient as the tree itself!

Personal experiences with the name Willow: | Edit

My name is Willow; and I've always loved it!! It reminds me that when things get tough, no matter how bad they seem, I can handle them! and bounce back! Just like my name says: I'm resilient as a Willow tree!! I'm flexible in a storm, I can go through the worst of the storms without breaking!! Sometimes my friends call me "Strong Willow"; but also "Sweet Willow"...I haven't met anyone who hasn't liked my name yet. And even though some people think it's a hippie name I'm far from being a hippie...as the beautiful leaves of the Willow tree cascade down, so does my long curly hair; and I'm very graceful and put together... The only thing I have in common with a hippie person is that we both love nature and that I also (from time to time) enjoy sitting on the ground (like for a picnic or when I walk my dogs...etc) hahaha :)

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My nieces name is Willow. My sister suprised us with it because befor the baby was born she had never mentioned it. I honestly hated it at first but she is two now and it is one of my favorite names. We call her low low for short.

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My daughter's name is Willow Faye. She typically goes by Faye, but we use Willow quite often, too. I've always loved willow trees, and I've always loved faeries, so that was my way of putting the two together. Also, her daddy's name is William, so it's kinda like we named her after him in a way, too. And, he absolutely LOVED the name, because two of his favorite tv characters are Willow from "Buffy" and Faye from "Cowboy Bebop," so everyone wins!

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I have twin girls and we named them Willow and Lainey. Many people always ask us where we came up with the name and it was really just from looking and searching through baby name books throughout my pregnancy. It always had that sweet and special ring and was a name we always came back to. I too was concerned it sounded too 'hippyish" at first but mine and my husband's personality is far from the "Make Love, Not War" perspective. My husband's name is William so it was definitely an afterthought that they are from the same 'name family'. Sometimes we just tell people she's named after my husband just to make it easier if we don't feel like going into detail. I would highly recommend considering this unique but not too different name (another reason why we liked it). We call her Loey for short so that goes really well with her twin sister's name, Lainey. We also have a 2 year old daughter Charlotte.

Nicknames for Willow: | Edit

Will, Wills, Willa, Willow Song, My little Willow tree, Willie, Loey

Meanings and history of the name Willow: | Edit

The name is taken from a beautiful tree called Weeping Willow. It's a name that stands as a badge for resilience, flexibility, grace and protection...

Famous real-life people named Willow: | Edit

Willow Bay, newscaster
Willow Camille Reign Smith, daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith
Willow Sage Hart, daughter of Pink and racer Carey Hart
Willow Bianca Faye Palin, daughter of Todd and Sarah Palin
Willow Katherine White, daughter of Michelle Monaghan and Peter White

Willow in song, story & screen: | Edit

Willow Rosenberg, a fictional character in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer;
Willow was Wilson's niece on Home Improvement
Willow is a name of a character in a movie by the same name from 1988
Little Willow - Paul McCartney
Weeping Willow - The Hush Sound
Willow Weep For Me - Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn
Willow's Song - Lesley Mackey
Willow's Whispers - a children's book written by Lana Button
Willow - children's picture book by Denise Brennan-Nelson