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Home › Baby Names Directory › Hazel

Hazel

♂ Boy

Pronounced HAY-zuhl /ˈheɪ.zəl/Medium

Meaning: Origin uncertainMedium

In 30 seconds: Hazel, used here for a boy, is an English name of uncertain root, drawn from the hazel tree and its nut.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningOrigin uncertain
U.S. rank (2024)#2837 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births45 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1916
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,865

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192018862024

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Hazel's origin is uncertain in this listing, but the word itself names the hazel tree, an old English nature word. Long worn mainly by girls, it appears here as a boy's choice, carrying the same earthy, botanical association.

Its bearers in this data are women, including Hazel Keech (born 1987), which reflects how strongly the name has leaned female even as it crosses over.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Hazel is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Hazel — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Hazel Crowney (1982–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Hazel Keech (1987–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Hazel…

Hazen— A surname-style name sharing Hazel's Haz- opening.
Heath— Another English nature-word name in the same vein.
Linden— Like Hazel, a tree name used as a given name.
Denzel— another English name
Nigel— echoes that soft -el sound

Explore names like Hazel

By themeenglishnature

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Hazel mean?

Hazel is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Hazel?

It's commonly said HAY-zuhl /ˈheɪ.zəl/.

Is Hazel a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Hazel is used as a boy name.

How popular is Hazel?

In 2024, Hazel ranked #2837 in the U.S. for boys, with 45 births recorded.

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