Harper vs Willow
Harper 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, Harper was ranked #5 and Willow #6 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Harper was ranked #15 and Willow #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Harper was ranked #23 and Willow #20 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Harper was ranked #21 and Willow #29 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Harper was ranked #84 and Willow #44 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Harper was ranked #54 and Willow #58 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Harper was ranked #2952 and Willow #3684 among boys in England and Wales.
Harper and Willow over time
Harper and Willow appear together in 6 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Harper reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2023, Harper moved ahead of Willow in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #14 and #10 the year before became #12 and #19.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Harper and Willow changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 2011 and 2025, ending at #15 and #23.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Harper #22 in 2023, Willow #9 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls24 shared years, 2001–2025
Harper held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Willow in 24.
Highest recorded here: Harper #22 in 2023, Willow #9 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harper #23, Willow #20.
England and Wales · Boys15 shared years, 2005–2025
Harper held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Willow in 0.
Highest recorded here: Harper #670 in 2014, Willow #2325 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harper #2952, Willow #3684.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 2011–2025
Harper held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Willow in 4.
Highest recorded here: Harper #7 in 2024, Willow #10 in 2022.
The order changed in 2023: Harper moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #14 and #10; by 2023 that had become #12 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harper #15, Willow #23.
Republic of Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2009–2025
Harper held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Willow in 11.
Highest recorded here: Harper #53 in 2018, Willow #29 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harper #54, Willow #58.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 2012–2024
Harper held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Willow in 11.
Highest recorded here: Harper #38 in 2021, Willow #24 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harper #84, Willow #44.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 2012–2023
Harper held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Willow in 3.
Highest recorded here: Harper #2 in 2017, Willow #5 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Harper #5, 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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Harper
Pairs where Harper shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Harper vs Aurora
Harper and Aurora both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Aurora · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Daisy
Harper and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Daisy · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Elsie
Harper and Elsie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Elsie · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Poppy
Harper and Poppy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Poppy · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Willow
Pairs where Willow shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Willow vs Evelyn
Willow and Evelyn both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Willow · Evelyn · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Willow vs Aurora
Willow and Aurora both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Willow · Aurora · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Charlotte vs Willow
Charlotte and Willow both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Charlotte · Willow · 23 shared years, 2003–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Freya vs Willow
Freya and Willow both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Freya · Willow · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — close in one country, far apart in another.
- Ivy vs Evie
Ivy and Evie averaged 4.8 places apart in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, and 408 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Evie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ella vs Harper
Ella and Harper averaged 6.0 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 944 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ella · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Mia vs Harper
Mia and Harper averaged 6.3 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 945 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Mia · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ivy vs Hazel
Ivy and Hazel averaged 6.4 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 354 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Hazel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Harper | Willow |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An English occupational surname for someone who played or made harps, from Old English 'hearpe'. Popularized as a given name partly through author Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. | From the name of the willow tree, ultimately from Old English 'welig' — an English nature/word name. |
| Origin | English (occupational surname) | English, a modern nature name from the willow tree |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɑɹ.pəɹ/ | /ˈwɪl.oʊ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #15 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #20 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Harper is recorded with a English (occupational surname) origin, while Willow is recorded with a English, a modern nature name from the willow tree origin.
- Harper and Willow both have 2 syllables.
- Harper's recorded meaning differs from Willow's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Harper
Popularity journey
First recorded1999
First recorded at #2425 among boys in England and Wales in 1999 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2012–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 2017 (recorded 2012–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #20 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls