Willow
Girl name · #44 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Willow? In official American birth records, Willow has been tracked continuously since 1890, giving it 135 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 4,763 baby girls were named Willow, placing it at #44 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #111, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 378 girls born in 2025 was named Willow.
The 135-year story
Willow first appears in the Social Security records in 1890, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 5,195 girls were named Willow — good for #39 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Willow per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Willow against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Willow in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Willow is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Willow is most common
Geography matters for names, and Willow is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Willow is most common in VT (14 per 1,000), WY (12 per 1,000), WV (12 per 1,000), ME (11 per 1,000), AK (10 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 3.7 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Willow is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Willow
Statistically, parents drawn to Willow tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Emilia, Eloise, Delilah, Stella, and Leilani.
EmiliaEloiseDelilahStellaLeilaniNovaMilaElena
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Willow | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,763 | #44 |
| 2024 | 4,672 | #41 |
| 2023 | 4,765 | #41 |
| 2022 | 5,072 | #37 |
| 2021 | 5,195 | #39 |
| 2020 | 4,401 | #48 |
| 2019 | 4,609 | #45 |
| 2018 | 3,933 | #60 |
| 2017 | 3,569 | #80 |
| 2016 | 3,125 | #96 |
| 2015 | 2,811 | #111 |
| 2014 | 2,410 | #136 |
| 2013 | 2,079 | #155 |
| 2012 | 1,839 | #171 |
| 2011 | 1,575 | #199 |
| 2010 | 1,122 | #288 |
| 2009 | 1,054 | #312 |
| 2008 | 797 | #405 |
| 2007 | 771 | #425 |
| 2006 | 578 | #523 |
| 2005 | 542 | #532 |
| 2004 | 519 | #548 |
| 2003 | 537 | #525 |
| 2002 | 546 | #504 |
| 2001 | 379 | #664 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Willow?
In official American birth records, the name Willow first appeared in 1890 (over 135 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Willow a popular girl name?
Willow ranked #44 among girls in 2025 with 4,763 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #111.
When was the name Willow most popular?
Willow peaked in 2021, when 5,195 American girls received the name (ranked #39 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Willow?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 378 newborn American girls was named Willow. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.