or is it too “feminine”?
Personally, I don’t find it to have a sound that leans one way or the other. However, it ranked 171 for girls in 2012, but didn’t chart for boys. My guess is that people will consider it a “girl” name, and that it would be quite a bit like naming a son [name]Ashley[/name] now, post the girl takeover. Although [name]Ashley[/name] had a decent history as a boy’s name before, which I don’t believe [name]Willow[/name] ever has. I could be wrong about that though!
I don’t think that it sounds particularly feminine, but, if I saw the name [name]Willow[/name], I would assume girl.
It may just be because I know only girls named [name]Willow[/name], but I wouldn’t consider it a boys name, sorry.
I actually know 2 male [name]Willow[/name]'s now. [name]One[/name] is about 13 and the other is closer to my age (20s). Neither use nicknames. I think it works fine on a boy as it sounds a good deal like other male names such as [name]Milo[/name], [name]Hugo[/name], etc. I do think most people will think “girl” when they see it though, so you’d have to be prepared for that, but it does have [name]Will[/name] if he wants it.
Obviously it’s far more popular for girls, but it is a tree name and therefore unisex. The -o ending is trendy for boys and the first syllable is [name]Will[/name], so I think it’s very usable for a boy. It’s really just a matter of whether or not you think your son being mistaken for a girl from time to time is really such a bad thing.
I actually love this idea! I think most nature names are unisex. The movie [name]Willow[/name] introduced it as a boys’ name, albeit in a fantasy setting, and there is the nickname [name]Will[/name], just like [name]William[/name]. I think the soft, poetic, dream-like quality is even more pronounced on a boy than on a girl.
I dont think nature names are ever truly masculine or feminine. However, [name]Willow[/name] is a pretty popular name for girls right now. I definitely think a boy [name]Willow[/name] in this day and age would probably get some looks.
I love [name]Willow[/name] for a boy but never cared for it for girls. There’s nothing feminine about it.
Yep, sure is.
I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Willow[/name] for a boy and would use it. I’d love to meet one! I never fund willow feminine honestly
I always try names in a sentence: like “Elected CEO of … is [name]Willow[/name] [name]Johnson[/name] …” or “Playing quarterback for the team tonight is [name]Willow[/name] [name]Johnson[/name]” , etc.
Somehow I associate [name]Willow[/name] only with girls, but once a child is named, people figure it out.
A lot of the previous posters are hitting on my exact thoughts: it doesn’t sound specifically feminine, but usage has pulled it to the feminine side.
I put its femininity in the same category as “re-gendered names” like Ashley, Meredith, Whitney, Lindsay. If I try to be truly objective, Meredith doesn’t specifically SOUND feminine to my ear, but I would be shocked to meet a male Meredith these days. It’s not the same functionally, but the end result is similar.
I know it’s not the same, but… Willoughby? Maybe nickname Willow if it feels right to you later on?
Wow its crazy how diverse your opinions are! Lol
I don’t know why but I do not think girl at all when I hear [name]Willow[/name] at all,
I think ill just keep it on the list but keep my options open because I didn’t realise it would be in the same category as naming your son ashley which i totally would never do that haha
My sons name is [name]Rieley[/name] and there are people who think that his name is feminine but I strongly feel like its more boyish .
I think its the “oh” sound that definitely says boy and [name]Will[/name] is a boy name… it made me want to name him [name]Willow[/name] even more seeing comments on the same page as me so thank you 
I’m still on the fence though
I think a few years ago it would have passed for a boy’s name, with the unisex sounding “O” ending. It’s a soft sounding choice that could work on both genders quite nicely. However, with [name]Willow[/name] [name]Smith[/name] bringing the name into the light as a girl’s name, it’s going to be harder to have it pass as a boy’s…