Willow
Say it: WIL-oh
GirlMeans willow tree6 letters2 syllables
#58
in Ireland (2025)
85
babies in 2025
#31
best rank (2021)
1,450
babies since 2003
Up 63
10-year rank change
Willow through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 85 | #58 |
| 2024 | 106 | #49 |
| 2023 | 110 | #50 |
| 2022 | 145 | #37 |
| 2021 | 166 | #31 |
| 2020 | 126 | #44 |
| 2019 | 130 | #43 |
| 2018 | 116 | #50 |
| 2017 | 80 | #77 |
| 2016 | 90 | #72 |
| 2015 | 52 | #121 |
| 2014 | 61 | #103 |
| 2013 | 40 | #148 |
| 2012 | 40 | #142 |
| 2011 | 23 | #234 |
| 2010 | 14 | #356 |
| 2009 | 20 | #254 |
| 2008 | 13 | #364 |
| 2007 | 11 | #375 |
| 2006 | 5 | #551 |
| 2005 | 3 | #690 |
| 2004 | 8 | #370 |
| 2003 | 6 | #439 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Willow mean?
Willow tree
English, from the name of the willow tree.
Say it right
WILoh
The story of Willow
Willow is simply the name of the tree, the waterside tree known for its long, trailing branches. It belongs to the modern fashion for names taken from the natural world, alongside Hazel, Ivy and Rowan, and it has grown in popularity across the English-speaking world since about 2000.
In Ireland it reached the CSO list in 2003, given to six girls. It rose through the 2010s and peaked in 2021 with 166 babies. That year it was number 31 on our combined count, and 29th on the CSO’s own list. It reached 24th in Northern Ireland the same year, its best position there.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Willow (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Willow (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Willow | 85 | 1,450 |
In Northern Ireland
#68 in 2025 with 30 babies. Best rank #24 (2021); 655 babies since 2007.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.