Willow
WIL-oh · 2 syllables
⚧ Unisex ◎ English ◈ 2 syllables
"Graceful tree"

From English

Willow means willow tree — the most graceful, most bending, most water-loving tree in any forest. Willows weep, willows bend without breaking, and willows grow wherever there's water. Will Smith named his daughter Willow. Buffy's Willow Rosenberg is TV's most beloved witch. The word itself sounds like wind through hanging branches: two syllables of flexibility and hidden strength.

← All unisex names
Willow at a glance
MeaningGraceful tree
OriginEnglish
GenderUnisex
Syllables2
NumerologyLife Path 4
US Rank (today)#60
Google AdSense — 728×90
Why parents love Willow
  • The willow tree bends without breaking — the most beautiful metaphor.
  • Will Smith chose it for his daughter.
  • Buffy's Willow is TV's most beloved witch.
  • Two syllables with a flowing, gentle sound: WIL-oh.
  • Will is a strong embedded nickname.
The vibe of Willow
willow treebendinggracewater-lovingBuffywitchSmithflexibility
Origin & history of Willow
Old English welig (willow tree) English Willow
1
English roots
Willow comes from the Old English welig, meaning willow tree. The willow is celebrated for its grace, flexibility, and ability to bend without breaking. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith named their daughter Willow in 2000. Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) is TV's most beloved witch. Willow has surged into the US top 50.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: The tree has been named since Old English; given-name usage grew from the 2000s.
3
Today
Willow remains a beloved choice, ranking #60 in the US. 60,727 babies have been named Willow since 1890.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, SSA data
How popular is Willow?
2021 peak year
Willow is on the rise. After years out of the spotlight, it has been gaining ground with U.S. parents in the most recent decade. It currently ranks inside the top hundred (#60), with about 4,238 babies named Willow each year. In 2021, 5,193 babies were named Willow (ranked #39 nationally). Total registrations across all years since 1880: roughly 60,727.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
5,193 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #39)
4,238 Avg. per year
(last decade)
42,380 Total registrations
last 10 years
60,727 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #60) Very popular
↑ Trending upward in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
Numerology of Willow
4
Life path number
The Builder
Discipline, reliability and masterful building.

Willow's Life Path 6 is the nurturer's number — bending to nurture. People named Willow tend to be graceful, resilient, and gifted at bending with life rather than breaking.

Bends without breaking
Graceful resilience
Water-seeking
Hidden-strength flexibility
Witch-level power
W5
I9
L3
L3
O6
W5
Sum: 31 → Life path 4
Personality of Willow
🏛️
Steady & reliable
When they make a promise, they keep it.
📐
Methodical
Thorough, careful, precise.
💪
Quietly powerful
Their strength is always there when it matters.
🌿
Grounded
No matter what swirls around them, they stay centred.
Names that sound like Willow

If you love Willow, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.

Names that combine with Willow

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Willow.

Middle names for Willow

The right middle name turns Willow into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

Want a personalised middle name for Willow? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.

♡ Generate middle name for Willow →
Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Willow is a beautiful choice.
Save it to your list, share it with your partner, or keep exploring.
← Browse all unisex names
Google AdSense — 728×90