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