Willow

With roots (see what we did there?) in the Old English word "welig" — which referred to a curved shape — the willow tree has long been associated with grace and beauty. It's why people who are slender and lithe are referred to as "willowy". And as a given name, Willow is as beautiful as its namesake tree.

In many cultures, the willow tree is said to be endowed with powers of the supernatural; in pop culture, it's often associated with age and wisdom (remember Grandmother Willow in 'Pocahontas'?). There was Kenneth Grahame's 1908 children's book 'The Wind in the Willows', and of course the fantasy adventure movie 'Willow' that was a hit in 1988 (and inspired a spinoff series of the same name on Disney+ in 2022). It's also the name of a Taylor Swift song!

The name Willow can definitely be gender-neutral, as many nature names are. However, it's far more commonly used for girls. It's a relatively new addition to the U.S. Social Security Administration's top 1000 most popular baby names list, having made its debut in 1998 at #854 — very near the bottom of the list. Since then, it has enjoyed a steady rise, picking up extra steam in the last few years in light of the popularity of nature names. At last count, it stood within the top 40 most popular names for girls.

Notable Willows include actress/singer Willow Smith, model/journalist Willow Bay, and actress Willow Shields.

Willow in quotes:

"No matter how far back you cut a willow tree, it will never really die." — Ann Brashares

"Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind." — Bruce Lee

"What a pity every child couldn't learn to read under a willow tree." — Elizabeth George Speare