Boy's name - androgynous or too feminine?

[Jars11]

What are people's thoughts on Willow for a boy? When i first thought of it i thought it was very gender neutral, but there are a few old posts online that seem to sway towards it firmly being a girl's name. I know there will be people who think yes girl or no neutral, but what do you think the general consensus would be today? And is it really bad for the child that there may be that association? I'm conflicted because i love the name and just cannot think of anything to replace it.

I think of it as a boy's name because of the film, however, it is a popular girls so most would assume a girl.

Girl.

I have only heard of girls called Willow so I would not think of it as a unisex name

What about Rowan?

How about Wilson instead?

Definitely girl in my mind

Girls name. I've never heard of a boy called Willow.

It's a boy's name in the film but I've only ever heard girls called it IRL.

I think if it as a girls' name, but I wouldn't be shocked to see it used for a boy, and it has the advantage of shortening to Will if he wants something unambiguously masculine.

I think it would be odd. It's a girls name.

If I saw it on a register I'd assume 'girl'. If it was a boy I wouldn't think 'oh how ridiculous' I'd just think 'hippy parents' !

Girl

Girl's name. TBH I don't like it for a girl and definitely not for a boy.

My daughter is a willow although when she was small a number of people assumed she was male. I think it works for either.

I love Willow, but I find it a feminine name, pretty !

In my mind its the name of a girl, and a tall willowy girl at that.

In our primary school there are two female Willows.

I suspect that a boy Willow may quickly ask people to call him Will.

If you want a boy tree name maybe try Rowan or Oakley.

I think Willow in connection to the film, so yes I suppose technically a boys name. I would assume the parents to be hippys though - sorry!

I think both.

Instantly makes me think of Willow the film. Or Willow from Buffy

Absolutely not. It's a feminine name.

I think most people would assume it's a girls name.

Why not use William? He could have nn Willo?

Thanks for the thoughts, sort of what i expected now. I'm thinking two things, what if it was hyphenated and preceeded by what you'd say is a typically 'masculine' name, would that overcome the controversy? Another option that could work is a similar name that can have Willo is a nickname, not something standard like William though..

Go Latin, call him Salix.

It's definitely a girl's name to me, but also it suggest a tall thin person so if that's not your family's body type, a short stocky boy called Willow might have a hard time...

Put it this way he may be in a class with girls called Willow would you like that? Have you considered Willoughby? It's more masculine sounding.

Iolo?