Declining since 2019, #7,491 for girls today.
Popularity of Azalee since 1897
Babies named Azalee per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1924, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Azalee's real moment was 1909.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 12 |
| 1900s | 98 |
| 1910s | 257 |
| 1920s | 359 |
| 1930s | 208 |
| 1940s | 165 |
| 1950s | 81 |
| 1960s | 13 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 16 |
| 2000s | 37 |
| 2010s | 171 |
| 2020s | 109 |
Meaning & origin
Azalee is a rare floral name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1897, during the height of the Victorian flower-name craze. It reached its peak popularity in 1909, though even then it was uncommon. After declining for much of the 20th century, the name has seen a slight uptick in recent decades, likely part of the broader revival of vintage botanical names. However, its trajectory has been falling since 2019, and its 2025 rank of 7,491 reflects its status as a distinctive rather than trendy choice. Unlike more common floral names like Lily or Rose, Azalee remains a unique alternative with a gentle, melodic sound.
Azalee is a variant of Azalea, which comes from the Greek word 'azaleos', meaning 'dry', referring to the plant's preference for dry soil. The name Azalea was adopted as a given name in the 19th century, following the Victorian flower-naming trend. Azalee is a rare respelling that emerged in the late 1800s, possibly influenced by the popularity of names ending in '-lee'.
“Azalee” around the world
Where Azalee lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Aza, Lee, Zalie
Sibling names for Azalee
Names that share Azalee's style, for a brother or sister.
