Hazel: Baby Name Meaning, Origin, & Popularity

Girl name origins & meanings

What does Hazel mean and stand for?

Meaning:

English: The hazel tree
Old English: Nut-bearing tree

Gender: Female

Syllables: 2

Pronunciation: The name Hazel is pronounced hay-zuhl

The name Hazel is derived from the English word for the hazel tree, which produces nuts and has lovely yellow-brown catkins in spring. Historically, it has been associated with wisdom and protection, and was sometimes given to girls with hazel-colored eyes. Hazel reached peak popularity in the early 20th century and has made a stylish comeback as a charming vintage name.

Girl name variations

Family name origins & meanings

English: topographic name for someone who lived near a hazelnut tree or grove, Middle English hasel, hesel, or perhaps a habitational name from a minor place named with this word such as Heazille Barton or Heazle Farm in Devon, or from Hessle in East Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, both named from Old English hæsel "hazel" (influenced by Old Norse hesli).

French: possibly a topographic name a diminutive of Old French hase, haise "hedge."

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Julia Roberts

Hazel in Pop Culture

Do you know these fictional characters that share this first name?

Hazel Grace Lancaster from The Fault in Our Stars - A teenage girl battling cancer who falls in love and grapples with the complexities of life and mortality.Popularity of the Name Hazel
Hazel Burke from Hazel - A competent and outspoken live-in maid who works for the Baxter family in this classic television sitcom.
Hazel Aden from Degrassi: The Next Generation - A high school girl navigating the challenges and triumphs of teenage life in this Canadian drama series.
Hazel Levesque from The Heroes of Olympus - A demigod daughter of Pluto (Roman aspect of Hades) with the ability to control precious metals and stones.
Hazel Wong from Murder Most Unladylike - A schoolgirl detective who solves mysterious crimes with her best friend in this popular children's book series.

Popularity of the Name Hazel

According to the Social Security Administration data, Hazel has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years. It ranked prominently among the top 50 baby names in the United States through 2023. Originally, Hazel gained some popularity after being used by Julia Roberts for one of her twins in 2004, and more recently, when John Krasinki and Emily Blunt chose the name for their daughter.

Historically, the name has vintage charm, having been popular in the early 20th century but saw a decline mid-century before its modern comeback. Notable individuals named Hazel include Hazel Scott, an acclaimed jazz and classical pianist, and Hazel Ying Lee, one of the first Chinese-American women pilots in the U.S. military.

In literature and media, Hazel Grace Lancaster is the protagonist in John Green's novel The Fault in Our Stars, which was also adapted into a successful film. Additionally, Hazel is a character in the animated series Watership Down, based on Richard Adams' novel of the same name.