Ruby vs Willow
Ruby 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, Ruby was ranked #17 and Willow #6 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ruby was ranked #41 and Willow #21 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Ruby was ranked #28 and Willow #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ruby was ranked #34 and Willow #29 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ruby was ranked #36 and Willow #58 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ruby was ranked #38 and Willow #44 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2007, Ruby was ranked #4333 and Willow #3589 among boys in England and Wales.
Ruby and Willow over time
Ruby and Willow appear together in 5 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Ruby held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Willow in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ruby reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 2017, Willow moved ahead of Ruby in England and Wales · Girls — #26 and #32 the year before became #29 and #26.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ruby held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Willow in 8.
Highest recorded here: Ruby #1 in 2007, Willow #9 in 2023.
The order changed in 2017: Willow moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #26 and #32; by 2017 that had become #29 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ruby #41, Willow #21.
Republic of Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 2003–2025
Ruby held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Willow in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ruby #16 in 2013, Willow #29 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ruby #36, Willow #58.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2007–2024
Ruby held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Willow in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ruby #18 in 2011, Willow #24 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ruby #38, Willow #44.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 2009–2025
Ruby held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Willow in 7.
Highest recorded here: Ruby #2 in 2011, Willow #10 in 2022.
The order changed in 2025: Willow moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #22 and #25; by 2025 that had become #28 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ruby #28, Willow #23.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 2010–2023
Ruby held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Willow in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ruby #1 in 2011, Willow #5 in 2020.
The order changed in 2020: Willow moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #5 and #9; by 2020 that had become #18 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ruby #17, 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 | Ruby | Willow |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Taken from the gemstone name; the ruby is the traditional July birthstone. As a given name it came into use in the 16th century. | From the name of the willow tree, ultimately from Old English 'welig' — an English nature/word name. |
| Origin | English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red') | English, a modern nature name from the willow tree |
| Pronunciation | /ˈruːbi/ | /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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #28 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #23 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ruby is recorded with a English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red') origin, while Willow is recorded with a English, a modern nature name from the willow tree origin.
- Ruby and Willow both have 2 syllables.
- Ruby'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
Ruby
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #515 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2007 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #28 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