Not sure where you’re getting your Willow usage stats from because they do not reflect BtN stats - it doesn’t hit used “thousands of times” until 2010z
No, most people aren’t going to know the exact stats - but they will have had similar exposure levels and style phases, and it’s very noticeable with names that been at some level of constant consciousness with the general public (Ophelia in literature if not in actual usage) and names that shot to sudden popularity from obscure quickly and recently
This is what is noticeable- not that Willow is a plant and Ophelia gives “pastoral” vibes; and certainly not that one means help and the other healing.
http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/56287