Willow Name Meaning & Origin
Willow
Origin of the name Willow:
Taken from the name of the tree which is derived from the Middle English wilwe (willow). Willow trees are noted for their flexibility and graceful appearance, hence the adjective willowy, which means "gracefully slender and lithe," qualities seen as desirable feminine attributes.
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman.
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US Popularity of Willow Over Time

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Name Lists Featuring Willow
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (New South Wales) 2014
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Victoria) 2014
- New Zealand Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in New Zealand 2014
- English and Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in England and Wales (2013)
- Irish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Northern Ireland 2014
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Victoria), 2010
- New Zealand Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in New Zealand, 2010
- English and Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in England and Wales
- English Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in England 2015
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Scottish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Scotland for 2012
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (New South Wales) for 2012
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Victoria) for 2012
- New Zealand Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in New Zealand for 2012
- Scottish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Scotland
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (New South Wales)
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Victoria)
- New Zealand Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in New Zealand
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Western)
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Southern)
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Queensland)
Contribute your knowledge to the name Willow
- Comments and insights on the name Willow
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
My daughters name is Willow and people just love her name. It's a name you don't hear a lot of but isn't too different.
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 niece's name is Willow. My sister surprised us with it because before 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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My daughter's name is Willow, and I always thought it was such a pretty name - different enough, but not too 'out there'. Compliments usually follow after learning her name. Great nickname is 'Loey'. My husband's name is William so even though we didn't plan it, she was unintentionally named after him. A great move!Willow is such a gorgeous name! I know only one Willow - actually her name is Wilhelmina but she is nicknamed Willow.
- Nicknames for Willow
Will, Wills,Lyla, Willow Song, My little Willow tree, Willie, Loey , Bill/Billie, Lo Lo, Weeping Willow, Weepy Willow, Willowy
- Meanings and history of the name Willow
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
Willow Bay, American newscaster
Willow Camille Reign Smith, American actress/singer; 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 Shields plays Primrose Everdeen in the movie "The Hunger Games"
Willow Smith
Willow Katherine White (b. 2008), daughter of American actress Michelle Monaghan
Willow Sage Hart (b. 2011), daughter of American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress Pink and American former professional freestyle motocross competitor, motorcycle racer, and current off-road truck racer Carey Hart- Willow in song, story & screen
Willow Rosenberg, fictional character in the TV 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 by Lana Button
"Willow," children's picture book by Denise Brennan-Nelson
Wind in the Willows, children's story book.
Grandmother Willow, tree character from Disney's "Pocahontas"