So, I have had the name [name_f]Willow[/name_f] picked out since I was 8 years old. I was given my first name book and it made every name list I have made since then. It was the most beautiful name to me. Airy, soft, beautiful. Everything about it made me happy. My fiance loves it too.
I still love it but I’m having trouble committing. We are expecting in [name_u]June[/name_u] and I find out the gender in 6 weeks. I think what is holding me back is that it has become “trendy” and somewhat popular. I don’t want to look back and regret it thinking it sounds dated like [name_f]Brittany[/name_f] or [name_f]Jessica[/name_f] does now (I instantly think 90s). It just makes me sad since I have loved this name since the mid 90s when it was basically unheard of. It is now top 100 in my state in the 80s for 2013 and in the mid 100s in the US overall.
A middle name has also always been a huge issue for me with this name. I could never find one that was perfect. We have finally decided on [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]. It’s a name we both like and it is also my fiance’s grandmother’s name that passed away quite a while ago.
So I guess I’m just wondering what people think of [name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]? Last name is essentially [name_m]Huntley[/name_m] with the t being a different but similar sounding letter. Should I let my love for this name go because it has become “trendy”?
I think Willow Evelyn is beautiful. Willow may seem like its getting trendy, but to be quite honest I haven’t met any little girls named Willow at all, and I have a little cousin in school, and a five year old brother. And I’ve been back and forth between three states in the last year, all in the southern part of the US. So i just don’t think it’ll turn into Jessica/Jennifer. However if you can’t see using it, try a few others you like. Try saying them out loud and see if any fit.
I love [name_f]Willow[/name_f], too! I had had it on my list as [name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] for a while, but let go of it because someone in my church named her daughter [name_f]Willow[/name_f]. I went off of it for a while, but that little girl has become such an adorable and heartwarming little lady that it’s been growing on me again. Sure, it’s not obscure, but if you love it enough, I think it’s worth the risk. I feel like a total hypocrite saying this, though, since [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] has been a favorite of mine since I can remember, and I can’t bear to add it to my list anymore, since it shot up MUCH more popular than I thought it was (or thought it’d ever go). I adore [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], still, and love the image of me having an [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], but I doubt it’ll ever happen. I just can’t get over the popularity. I don’t have an issue with popularity generally, but when I fall for something I think is obscure, and then find out it is popular (or almost popular!), the popularity just turns me off of it.
Out of all your options, though, [name_f]Willow[/name_f] still is my favorite for you! I think [name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]'s gorgeous, and I can totally see you with a little [name_f]Willow[/name_f]. (And for what it’s worth, I’ve only met that one [name_f]Willow[/name_f]. :))
[name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] is just as you described: Airy, soft, beautiful. It sounds like it’s the name for you. For what it’s worth, I don’t think of [name_f]Willow[/name_f] as trendy at all. It may have risen in popularity recently, but it doesn’t strike me as a fad name. Anyway, imo, if you love a name and it is meaningful/special to you, popularity shouldn’t matter. [name_f]Every[/name_f] child makes a name his/her own. Congrats & good luck!
I love it and I don’t think you’ll find that [name_f]Willow[/name_f] is very popular - I think it’s just a nameberry favourite but nameberry contributors are definitely more inclined to like unique names. When you go on nameberry a whole bunch of unique names seem popular.
[name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] is beautiful - light, airy, feminine, natural.
I think [name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] is quite pretty, and I don’t think of [name_f]Willow[/name_f] as a “trendy” name. I know both tiny babies and grown women with the name. I don’t think it will be super indicative of the time she was born like the -aden names or [name_f]Jessica[/name_f]/[name_f]Brittany[/name_f]/etc. I say go for it!
Go for it! [name_f]Willow[/name_f] was on my short list for a long time before DH finally admitted he didn’t care for it. Darn him…anyway, it’s a beautiful name!
[name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] [name_m]Huntley[/name_m] is such a beautiful name! Its soft and feminine without being overly girly! I’ve never met another [name_f]Willow[/name_f] and its definitely on my favorites list. So, I don’t think you should ever let this name go!
I don’t think [name_f]Willow[/name_f] will ever be extremely popular (and by that I mean top 20ish) because it has that soft, nature, “hippie” vibe that not everyone will go for. But personally I think it is a fine name and you should use it if you both love it. I’m not a big fan of the [name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] combo because I would prefer a middle beginning with a harder consonant, but it’s not terrible or anything. An ethereal-feeling choice.
I think [name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] sounds beautiful! If it makes you feel any better I don’t know anyone named [name_f]Willow[/name_f]. I also don’t think it will get popular enough to be associated with a certain time period like [name_f]Brittany[/name_f] or [name_f]Jessica[/name_f].
The only [name_f]Willow[/name_f] I’ve ever met was my bunny rabbit when I was a kid. [name_f]Lovely[/name_f] name and I would say if you love it, go for it.
I also once met a rabbit named [name_f]Willow[/name_f]! Funny. I think [name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] “[name_m]Huntley[/name_m]” is really lovely, and I don’t think [name_f]Willow[/name_f] is in the same realm of popularity as [name_f]Jessica[/name_f] and [name_f]Brittany[/name_f] were. I vote that you go for it!
[name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] is such a lovely combination! It’s strong but it seems very ethereal to me too…I wouldn’t let it go because it’s gotten more popular. I agree with toronto87 too…Nameberriers are typically on this site BECAUSE we like more unique, interesting names. I’ve never met a little [name_f]Willow[/name_f], and I work with tons of kiddos ages 18 mo-16 years in schools and clinics. I think it’s just as much a shame to let go of a name you really love due to it being more popular, as it would be to elect a name because it’s more popular or trendy. Go with what you love!
Congratulations [name_u]Shilo[/name_u]! W.E. is beautiful. Classic yet unexpected. I love that they’re both unisex names, but their combined effect is totally feminine, delicate, lacy. I think of the word “eaves” and of willow trees of course, so the image the name evokes is a sunlight-filled canopy of leaves. [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] also kind of sounds like “heavenly.”
Thank you so much everyone. You’ve made me feel much better about the name. I’ve had nothing but positive reactions from people [name_m]IRL[/name_m] too but still was having issues making it official as our girl name. I guess it’s a lot of pressure naming a real baby.
I have loved the name [name_f]Willow[/name_f] since I was about 7 years old (because of [name_f]Buffy[/name_f] the Vampire Slayer) - and Willows are my favorite tress. The name [name_f]Willow[/name_f] may be getting a little more recognized right now, but it’s FAR from trendy. I checked and only about 2,000 girls were named [name_f]Willow[/name_f] last year, and that’s hardly a drop in the bucket. I say go for the name [name_f]Willow[/name_f], it’s beautiful, and I certainly don’t feel that it will be like another [name_f]Brittaney[/name_f].
