Willow is an English nature name for the graceful riverside tree, from the Old English welig, and means "willow tree". The tree's supple branches have made it a symbol of flexibility and quiet strength, and the name fits the current American love of nature names. Willow ranked number 761 in the United States in 2000, climbed from number 111 in 2015 into the top 100 by 2016, peaked at number 37 in 2022 and ranks number 44 among girls in 2025.