If you love the name Willow but can't use it because you already have a daughter called Willow, or because someone in your life called dibs on it first, you'll need to find an alternative. The good news is there are plenty of beautiful baby names that are similar to Willow in meaning, sound or vibe. Here's our selection of names that could make good sister names for, or alternatives to, Willow:
Willa is probably too close to Willow to work as a sibling name, but it could make a great alternative to Willow, especially if you're into vintage girl names. Like Willow, Willa could be also be used as a way to honor a familial William.
Willow and Luna are two wonderfully vowely names that both contain the mellifluous letter "L". Both have also been popular among celebrity parents such as Chrissy Teigen and John Legend (Luna), Uma Thurman (Luna), Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith (Willow) and singer Pink (Willow). In addition, both Luna and Willow have ties to the moon: Luna literally means moon in Latin and several other languages, while the lunar meaning of Willow is hidden in its symbolism. If you like the name Luna, you may also want to check out our list of Luna alternatives.
If you like Willow and Luna, here's another vowely, L-powered option you might want to consider for your baby girl. In addition to its appealing sound, Lily boasts an unambiguous, botanical meaning—just like Willow.
Keeping with the nature name theme, next up is Ivy. Willow and Ivy may not look too similar on paper, but when you say them out loud, the sibling name potential is undeniable. They both also give off dreamy, even poetic vibes, without feeling flimsy.
If you like Willow, there's a good chance you like Harlow, too. Both of these charming ow-enders have seen a huge surge in popularity this century, and both have unisex appeal—even though they lean more towards the feminine. In addition, Harlow brings to the table British place name panache, surname appeal, and a dash of Old Hollywood glam thanks to Silver Screen star Jean Harlow. You can also swap the "H" for an "M" and go with Marlow—that works, too!
Not only do both Willow and Meadow belong to the stylish group of names that end in ow, they also both fall into the category of nature-inspired girls' names. Ahead of their time, the late Fast & Furious actor Paul Walker and his then-girlfriend Rebecca Soteros named their daughter Meadow back in 1998.
The "z" sound in the middle gives Hazel a bit more zip, but it's still on the same wavelength as Willow. And of course, there's the tree connection! So, if you're looking for a matchy pair of tree-inspired girl names for a sibling set, Willow and Hazel pass muster!
If you don't mind that Olivia is one of the most popular girl names of this century so far, then it could definitely be an option. It's pretty and vowely, just like Willow, and there's that arboreal link too ("olive tree"), even if it isn't a straight-up word name like Willow. The pared-down Olive could also make a pretty alternative to (or a sibling name for) Willow.
Ophelia begins where Willow ends: the awesome o-sound. But that's not the only they have in common. Both Ophelia and Willow give off poetic vibes, and both have a dark side, too: Ophelia figures as a tragic character in Shakespeare's Hamlet, while the willow tree carries somewhat somber associations in some cultures. Willow also features in Shakespeare's tragedy Othello, but not as a character name: The Willow Song, sung by Othello's wife Desdemona, explores the themes of lost love and betrayal.
This name doesn't have much in common with Willow in terms of sound, but if names had colors assigned to them, we feel Willow and Sage would be twins. Also, the color-conscious singer Pink used Sage as a middle name for her daughter Willow. Enough said!
In nature, rivers and the water-loving willows often go hand-in-hand. I don't know about you, but I think this makes Willow and River a great sibling pair. That, plus the fact there's something mighty and majestic about both of them (the mighty willow, the mighty river). What's also great about this sibling name set is that it can be used for both girls and boys, as both Willow and River are considered unisex in the contemporary U.S.
Willows thrive along river banks, but they also do well on small islands where ample water supply is guaranteed. This leads us to our next name, Isla. In addition to meaning "island" in Spanish, Isla has links to Scotland, where it has a long history of use as a given name. As a Scottish name, Isla is thought to have evolved from Islay, the name of an island off the west coast of Scotland.
Now back to the woods... The next name on our list is Juniper. It doesn't have much in common with Willow in terms of sound, but it could be a good alternative if you feel Willow is losing its quirkiness. Having the possibility to pair it with nicknames likes June and Junie doesn't hurt, either.
At first glance, Clover might feel a little surprising as a baby name choice for someone who is looking for a sibling name for or alternative to Willow, not least because it's a relatively new addition to the wonderful category of nature-inspired baby names. But if you think about, Willow and Clover do have quite a bit in common. The obvious nature connection aside, both of these names contain the charming ow-sound (Willow in the end, Clover in the middle), both boast the letter "L" which adds a certain softness, and both are rich with meaning thanks to the symbolism they embody.