| Willow | Ellie | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Willow tree; grace | Light |
| Origin | English | English |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | WIL-oh | EL-ee |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1890 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2021 (5,195) | 2024 (6,317) |
| In 2025 | 4,763 | 6,176 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Willow | Ellie |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 28,868 | 35,725 |
| 2010s | 27,072 | 43,240 |
| 2000s | 6,024 | 17,025 |
| 1990s | 1,217 | 3,559 |
| 1980s | 344 | 767 |
| 1970s | 502 | 567 |
| 1960s | 139 | 576 |
| 1950s | 138 | 542 |
| 1940s | 175 | 395 |
| 1930s | 208 | 441 |
| 1920s | 252 | 767 |
| 1910s | 111 | 781 |
| 1900s | 40 | 533 |
| 1890s | 5 | 453 |
| 1880s | 0 | 306 |
Willow is an English nature name from the graceful, flexible tree, which has long symbolised resilience and gentleness.
Ellie is an English short form of Eleanor, Ellen and Elizabeth, associated with “light.”
Ellie is more popular than Willow today: about 6,176 US babies were given the name Ellie in 2025, compared with 4,763 named Willow.
Willow means Willow tree; grace (English origin), while Ellie means Light (English origin).
In US records, Willow first appears in 1890 and Ellie in 1880, so Ellie has the longer recorded history.