Alice vs Willow
Alice and Willowcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Alice was ranked #68 and Willow #6 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alice was ranked #49 and Willow #21 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Alice was ranked #76 and Willow #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alice was ranked #76 and Willow #29 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alice was ranked #41 and Willow #58 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Alice was ranked #57 and Willow #44 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Alice and Willow over time
Alice and Willow appear together in 5 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Alice held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Willow in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Alice reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Willow in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Willow moved into the top 50 at #33 in 2013 as Alice fell out of it to #55, having been #37 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2018, Willow moved ahead of Alice in England and Wales · Girls — #17 and #26 the year before became #24 and #20.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alice and Willow changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 2003 and 2025, ending at #41 and #58.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Willow rose about as far as Alice fell — from #25 and #891 in 1996 to #49 and #21 in 2024.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Alice #31 in 2018, Willow #5 in 2020.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alice held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Willow in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alice #17 in 2016, Willow #9 in 2023.
The order changed in 2018: Willow moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #17 and #26; by 2018 that had become #24 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alice #49, Willow #21.
Republic of Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 2003–2025
Alice held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Willow in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alice #29 in 2022, Willow #29 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alice #41, Willow #58.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2007–2024
Alice held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Willow in 8.
Highest recorded here: Alice #35 in 2019, Willow #24 in 2021.
The order changed in 2017: Willow moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #44 and #74; by 2017 that had become #42 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alice #57, Willow #44.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 2009–2025
Alice held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Willow in 14.
Highest recorded here: Alice #37 in 2017, Willow #10 in 2022.
The order changed in 2012: Willow moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #49 and #56; by 2012 that had become #48 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alice #76, Willow #23.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 2010–2023
Alice held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Willow in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alice #31 in 2018, Willow #5 in 2020.
The order changed in 2013: Willow moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #37 and #44; by 2013 that had become #55 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alice #68, Willow #6.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Alice | Willow |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the name of the willow tree, ultimately from Old English 'welig' — an English nature/word name. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English, a modern nature name from the willow tree |
| Pronunciation | /ˈwɪl.oʊ/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #41 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #23 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Willow has a recorded origin (English, a modern nature name from the willow tree); Alice does not have one recorded yet.
- Alice has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Willow.
- A meaning is recorded for Willow; Alice doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Alice
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #292 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2016 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #76 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Willow
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #891 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2010–2023
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 2020 (recorded 2010–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls