Hazel

♀ Girl

Pronounced HAY-zul /ˈheɪ.zəl/High

Meaning: The hazel tree or shrub; of the hazel color (golden-brown)High

In 30 seconds: From Old English for the hazel tree, Hazel is a nature name with warm, golden undertones. After a century in the shadows, it has surged back into the U.S. top 30.

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Origin HighOld English

MeaningThe hazel tree or shrub; of the hazel color (golden-brown)

Peak year1918

Total births (all-time)≈ 255,422

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Hazel comes from the Old English hæsel, referring to the hazel tree (Corylus species). The hazel was valued both practically — for its edible nuts — and symbolically, associated with wisdom and magic in Celtic and Norse traditions. It also describes the golden-brown eye color.

Hazel was a popular name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reaching the U.S. top 25 around 1900–1920. It then fell dramatically out of use before beginning a revival around 2010. The novel and film The Fault in Our Stars (2012/2014), whose protagonist is named Hazel, contributed to renewed interest. It re-entered the U.S. top 30 by the 2020s.

Did you know? In Celtic and Germanic tradition, the hazel tree was associated with wisdom and knowledge — hazel rods were used for dowsing (water-finding) and were believed to have protective and divining powers.

Variations

HazellHasel

Nicknames

HazeHazy

Famous Bearers

★Hazel Grace Lancaster (fictional)
Protagonist of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars (2012), credited with boosting the name's revival.

If you like Hazel…

Violet— shares the Victorian nature-name revival feel

Evelyn— equally Edwardian classic experiencing a strong comeback

Eleanor— shares the dignified vintage quality

Willow— another tree name with the same earthy, warm appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Hazel mean?

Hazel comes from Old English and refers to the hazel tree and shrub, associated with wisdom and magic in Celtic tradition, and also describes the golden-brown eye color.

How do you pronounce Hazel?

Hazel is said HAY-zul /ˈheɪ.zəl/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Hazel a boy or girl name?

Hazel is used almost exclusively as a girl's name in modern English-speaking countries.

How popular is Hazel?

Hazel re-entered the U.S. top 30 girls' names by the early 2020s after a dramatic revival, aided in part by the popularity of The Fault in Our Stars.