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Baby names

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Original poster

Willow for a boy?

86 replies

Almondinha · 26/12/2016 11:20

Hi! We just found out recently that we are having a little boy - our first baby. So if course we have been busy talking about names.
The other day while we were out on a walk, I came up with the name Willow which we both love and were really excited about.
I don't know anyone named Willow and to me it sounded like a perfect boys name and seemed perfectly suitable. However when we got home and looked up the name online, we found out that it is a girls name! We were quite disappointed.
I know that nowadays children can be called anything. However I don't want to give my child a higher likelihood of being bullied etc just because of his name.
Should we think about something else or does Willow work fine for a boy too?
Thank you for your opinions.

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MrsMeeseeks · 03/01/2017 13:03

Yes, whyever not, Willow is fairly gender neutral, IMO. Go for it, OP.

Mamatallica · 03/01/2017 12:26

I've only heard it used as a male name in the film but I bought a book for my niece Willow called "Willow at Christmas" and was surprised to find the eponymous bear was male.
Due to popularity as a female name, I wouldn't recommend it for a son but hell, if people are naming their daughters James these days, maybe it's time to claim some names back for the boys?

reuset · 03/01/2017 01:38

Doesn't help that it's super popular for girls and only used now and then for boys. I personally think it sounds fine for a boy/man, though my only real reference point is the old film, Willow where the main character of that name was male.

buttercup54321 · 03/01/2017 00:07

Not for a boy. Far too girly. William?

T2016 · 31/12/2016 11:01

How about willen?

T2016 · 31/12/2016 00:15

How about Willen? That's on my boys name list!! Soft yet not so feminine as Willow

TheGruffaloMother · 30/12/2016 11:24

I know 2 Willows. Both girls. I really can't imagine a boy stating his name was Willow without being either guarded or embarrassed.

Incidentally, my name is also a technical unisex name that is conventionally only used for girls. I've met a man with my name and he was an absolute thug who definitely had something to prove.

EweAreHere · 30/12/2016 11:03

Please don't do that to your boy.

Fartleks · 30/12/2016 11:00

He could use will in school maybe

Fartleks · 30/12/2016 10:59

What about Willoughby and you can call him willough.

woodhill · 30/12/2016 10:57

I think of it as a girl's name. I wouldn't use it on a boy as it may set them up to ridicule and make things more difficult for them.

Kr1stina · 29/12/2016 22:40

William is a nice name and very similar

caffelatte100 · 29/12/2016 22:37

No, it's a girls name. I agree with others, you would be doing your son a disservice should you choose this, as others have said, life is difficult enough. I think that it is also a kind of real wimpy name for a boy. Some names could break the gender barrier, but definitely not this one.

Good luck though!!!

ocelot41 · 28/12/2016 09:22

Er no. Sorry. I like unusual names but you will be giving this child a bit of an uphill struggle if you give him a girl's name.

SirChenjin · 28/12/2016 09:20

It's a girls name - but it's interesting that more boys names are being used as girls names, and less so the other way round.

Use it by all means, but remember he has to live with your decision for a lot longer than you'll have to.

albertcampionscat · 28/12/2016 09:12

1horatio

Quite.

Crumbs1 · 28/12/2016 09:02

It's the name for a black Labrador, sorry.

1horatio · 28/12/2016 09:00

albert it is imo clearly sexist. However, who would want to make their do that in the name of gender equality,,,?

I think Willoughby would be a lovely choice and Willow could be a nice nickname!

FreshHorizons · 28/12/2016 07:43

There Is only one answer- NO. (Think of the poor child forever having to explain his parents).

PeoniesPony · 28/12/2016 07:38

No I think at the present time it is a name for girls.

Maybe in the future it could become a boys name, but at the moment it's is a fairly popular girls name so there is a good chance he would be in a classroom with a girl Willow.

feetheart · 28/12/2016 05:56

When expecting DS over 11 years ago we heard of boy triplets called Willow, Oak and Ash so it's not exclusively a girl's name. In the end it was the latter name we liked best :)

AntiQuitty · 28/12/2016 05:54

I knew a boy Willow so it's not unheard of.

Ipushedmygrannyaffabus · 28/12/2016 05:49

It's a girls name and he would be teased by being called Willy. Why would you do that to him?

nichito · 27/12/2016 21:46

alltouchedout has it spot on.

I am very traditional insofar as name tastes are concerned but although I wouldn't choose it for a child of either gender, I didn't baulk at the notion of Willow for a boy at all....

.... I am, however, from Brighton!

MinisWin · 27/12/2016 02:59

Willem? Agree Rowan is also a good alternative.

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