What does Kinsley mean?
Kinsley is an English place name meaning “king’s meadow.”
What does Willow mean?
Willow is an English nature name from the graceful, flexible tree, which has long symbolised resilience and gentleness.
Kinsley vs Willow
Which is more popular?
Willow is more popular than Kinsley today: about 4,763 US babies were given the name Willow in 2025, compared with 2,671 named Kinsley.
| Kinsley | Willow | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | King’s meadow | Willow tree; grace |
| Origin | English | English |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | KINZ-lee | WIL-oh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1978 | 1890 |
| Peak year | 2017 (4,053) | 2021 (5,195) |
| In 2025 | 2,671 | 4,763 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Kinsley
Willow
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Kinsley | Willow |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 20,182 | 28,868 |
| 2010s | 26,306 | 27,072 |
| 2000s | 2,985 | 6,024 |
| 1990s | 425 | 1,217 |
| 1980s | 110 | 344 |
| 1970s | 8 | 502 |
| 1960s | 0 | 139 |
| 1950s | 0 | 138 |
| 1940s | 0 | 175 |
| 1930s | 0 | 208 |
| 1920s | 0 | 252 |
| 1910s | 0 | 111 |
| 1900s | 0 | 40 |
| 1890s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kinsley or Willow more popular?
Willow is more popular than Kinsley today: about 4,763 US babies were given the name Willow in 2025, compared with 2,671 named Kinsley.
What is the difference between Kinsley and Willow?
Kinsley means King’s meadow (English origin), while Willow means Willow tree; grace (English origin).
Which name is older, Kinsley or Willow?
In US records, Kinsley first appears in 1978 and Willow in 1890, so Willow has the longer recorded history.