Namewise

Princess vs Willow

Princess 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.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Princess was ranked #869 and Willow #21 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Princess was ranked #790 and Willow #29 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Princess was ranked #736 and Willow #47 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Princess and Willow over time

Princess and Willow appear together in 2 published lists, across 45 years of shared records. Willow held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Princess in 0.

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.

Princess reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Willow in none. 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 2012, Willow moved ahead of Princess in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #333 and #356 the year before became #612 and #142.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Princess held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Willow in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Princess #324 in 2010, Willow #9 in 2023.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Princess #869, Willow #21.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 20032024

    Princess held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Willow in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Princess #286 in 2006, Willow #29 in 2021.

    The order changed in 2012: Willow moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #333 and #356; by 2012 that had become #612 and #142.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Princess #736, Willow #47.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Princess, Willow
FieldPrincessWillow
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedFrom the name of the willow tree, ultimately from Old English 'welig' — an English nature/word name.
OriginNot yet recordedEnglish, a modern nature name from the willow tree
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈwɪl.oʊ/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-SCT, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024)New South Wales, Australia · Girls #23 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Willow has a recorded origin (English, a modern nature name from the willow tree); Princess does not have one recorded yet.
  • Princess and Willow both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Willow; Princess doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Princess

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #1522 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

  2. Highest recorded2000–2024

    Highest recorded position: #238 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2002 (recorded 2000–2024).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #869 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls

Willow

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded2010–2023

    Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 2020 (recorded 2010–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls