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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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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llangennith · 26/12/2016 18:07

Sorry but it's definitely a girl's name. Find another name that won't cause your DS to be mocked.
I'm sure all the male Shirleys and Hilarys would agree.

Ilovewillow · 26/12/2016 18:03

My daughter is a willow and oddly we were asked several times when she was young if she was a boy but I believe the boys variation is willoughby which I think is lovely!

EwanWhosearmy · 26/12/2016 17:57

In 2015 Willow was the no 41 top girls name in England and Wales, with 1308 babies given the name. In view of its increasing popularity it would be very cruel to name a boy Willow.

Pancakeflipper · 26/12/2016 17:50

What about Rohan ?

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 26/12/2016 17:48

I think it is a lovely name, but very soft and feminine.
I agree that Rowan sounds more masculine.
Other nature names ;
Rowan
Robin
River
Oakley
Flint.
However, whatever you name your lovely baby, is your choice. 😀

Pancakeflipper · 26/12/2016 17:47

Or nm to Willy ?

Gallavich · 26/12/2016 17:47

Call him Willow if you don't care that he will be teased and assumed to be a girl all his life Confused I mean, of course you can call him anything you want, but why would you?

IAmNotTheOneWhoKnocks · 26/12/2016 17:46

Think he will get teased unmercifully at school

...Mercilessly then?

4bouncingofthewalls · 26/12/2016 17:41

Willow for a boy would be gorgeous and if he thinks it's to girly his nm can be Will 😊

Pancakeflipper · 26/12/2016 17:39

Only use if your family is genetically slim and willowy.
I know someone who hates begging called Willow because she's not willowy. It's a name that conjurers up a mental image

Empress13 · 26/12/2016 17:33

Think he will get teased unmercifully at school. Def girl sounding name.

GinIsIn · 26/12/2016 17:29

Girls name!

Sophronia · 26/12/2016 17:28

I think it's fine for a boy, it's a nature name so not sure why it could only be female.

SorenaJ · 26/12/2016 15:13

It's not ridiculous. There is nothing inherently gendered about names. Willow is perfectly fine for a boy. It's a lovely name.

MrsUnderwood · 26/12/2016 13:26

The film Willow's titular character is male. I say go for it, it's a nice sounding name and he can be Will for short.

Solo · 26/12/2016 13:22

Rowan is fairly non gendered though whereas Willow is imho a pretty pretty name ifswim?

TheMortificadosDragon · 26/12/2016 13:01

It's not ridiculous - it's a purely arbitrary convention which genderises some names but not others - eg another tree, Rowan, is 'allowed' to be used by either. But unfortunately, while such conventions exist, you probably don't really want your DS to be 'the boy named Sue'.

kmini · 26/12/2016 13:00

Willoughby? Bit of a rogue in sense and sensibility but great name apart from that.

MadeForThis · 26/12/2016 12:59

Girls name

icantgetnosleep5 · 26/12/2016 12:36

Definitely not, sorry, kids are merciless - there's a William in my sons class who is constantly crying due to the other children calling him Willy

I'm nt sure willow wud stand a chance !

Solo · 26/12/2016 12:21

I also have a girl Willow. Definitely not for a boy unless he grows up to be a black belt in Judo by the time he's 6 because he'd need to be.

NavyandWhite · 26/12/2016 12:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

smellyboot · 26/12/2016 12:11

gilrs name

calzone · 26/12/2016 12:10

Absolutely no for a boy.

It's ridiculous.

IAmNotTheOneWhoKnocks · 26/12/2016 12:08

It's a pretty well known girl's name.

Of course, some people will tell you can use it for a boy too, which is true insofar as you COULD also call your son Hannah or Emily, if you wanted.

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