A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Hazel since 1880
Babies named Hazel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Hazel's real moment was 1897.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 3,644 |
| 1890s | 20,154 |
| 1900s | 23,802 |
| 1910s | 57,068 |
| 1920s | 58,984 |
| 1930s | 28,567 |
| 1940s | 16,657 |
| 1950s | 9,135 |
| 1960s | 3,674 |
| 1970s | 1,489 |
| 1980s | 1,236 |
| 1990s | 1,683 |
| 2000s | 5,930 |
| 2010s | 33,919 |
| 2020s | 36,638 |
Meaning & origin
Hazel led the botanical class of the 1890s, its American peak came in 1897, amid the Victorian craze for Violet, Ivy, and Olive, and then spent decades as the very definition of a grandmother name, complete with a sitcom maid to seal the image. The revival that began in 1985 has run for four straight decades, one of the longest sustained climbs in the modern data, and it has carried the name all the way back: No. 21 for girls as of 2025, given to about one in every 254 newborn girls.
The rebound has famous fingerprints on it, a celebrity daughter in 2004, a beloved young-adult heroine in 2012, but the deeper engine is sound and image. Hazel offers the warm z of Zoe inside the antique frame of Mabel, plus a ready-made association with eyes, trees, and autumn that requires no explanation.
Geographically the name now runs strongest in Wyoming, Vermont, and Idaho, mountain and northern states that have led the heirloom revival generally. The only caution is the crowd: a name rising for forty years arrives at last near the top of the charts, and today's Hazel joins a cohort in a way her 1990s counterpart never would have.
Hazel is a straightforward botanical name: Old English hæsel, the hazel tree, whose nuts and pliable wood made it a fixture of the English countryside, and whose name also came to describe the flecked green-brown eye color. It joined the great late-Victorian flowering of plant names, Violet, Ivy, Olive, Myrtle, and became one of the era's biggest hits, peaking in the United States in 1897. The 20th century wore it down to grandmother status, not helped by the frumpy title maid of the 1960s sitcom Hazel. Its rehabilitation began around 1985 and gathered force in the 2000s; Julia Roberts choosing it for her daughter in 2004 and the heroine Hazel Grace Lancaster of The Fault in Our Stars (2012) marked the name's return to full fashion.
Where Hazel is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Hazel” around the world
Where Hazel lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
65
babies in 2024
Ireland
#55
in 2025
New Zealand
#4
in 2025
Quebec
18
babies in 2025
Australia (NSW)
#8
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Haze, Hazy
Famous people named Hazel
- Hazel Scott · Trinidadian-born jazz pianist and civil-rights trailblazer
- Hazel O'Leary · former U.S. Secretary of Energy
Sibling names for Hazel
Names that share Hazel's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Eleanor, Willow, Iris, Aurora, Olive, Alice, Evelyn, Ivy, Lily, Ruby, Scarlett, Stella, Violet, Aspen, Audrey, Autumn, Blanche, Bonnie, Daisy, Edna, Eliza, Elsie, Holly, Juniper, Laurel, Mamie, Mavis, Myrtle, Opal, Pearl, Rosalie, Rosemary, Sage, Vivian, Adaline, Adell, Adelyne, Alyce, Annabel, Arlie, Athena, Audree, Beryl, Birdie, Blakely, Briar, Cherry, Clementine, Clover, Coral, Coraline, Dahlia, Dortha, Elberta, Elnora, Ember, Emberlee, Evalyn, Everlee, Everleigh, Fern, Ferne, Goldie, Halley, Harlow, Indigo, Ivey, Lilian, Lilyann, Lorene, Lurline, Mabelle, Mable, Maebelle, Magnolia, Margot, Maybelle, Meadow, Myrtis, Navy, Oaklee, Oaklyn, Oaklynn, Pepper, Rheta, Roselyn, Salem, Scarlet, Syble, Twila, Verda, Vernice, Waverly, Willa, Winter, Wren, Wynter, Adalie, Alise, Amethyst, Anabell, Auburn, Autum, Blossom, Calla, Cleda, Daisey, Delsie, Dove, Eartha, Elois, Emberlyn, Estell, Fredia, Genie, Gladis, Grayce, Gypsy, Ivery, Ivie, Jovie, Joye, Lael, Lark, Lavender, Lelah, Lemon, Lilla, Lillia, Lillyan, Lilyan, Maizy, Maple, Marigold, Myrl, Myrle, Myrtice, Naoma, Novalee, Novaleigh, Olene, Pearlene, Rain, Roselee, Roseline, Silver, Tawny, Timber, Veola, Verlie, Addeline, Adelin, Alverda, Annel, Apple, Arbor, Ardyn, Ardys, Aster, Averil, Blonnie, Byrdie, Cayenne, Clarabell, Clella, Cricket, Daizy, Daphnee, Daphnie, Dasie, Eathel, Edrie, Elize, Ellice, Ellorie, Emmalin, Etheline, Ethyle, Evalee, Feather, Ferol, Floye, Gladies, Glady, Harlo, Hayzel, Hazely, Hazley, Idelle, Imagene, Ivalee, Ivorie, Jazel, Klover, Laural, Laurell, Lilley, Lilyrose, Lorain, Lurlene, Lydiann, Lyllian, Maebell, Maevis, Maybel, Morley, Novalie, November, Orene, Pearley, Prairie, Primrose, Riverlyn, Roizy, Rosalene, Rosaly, Rozelle, Ruther, Sativa, Saydie, Scarleth, Snow, Sparrow, Thressa, Trellis, Valley, Violett, Willo, Winry, Wrenn, Adalyne, Adelae, Adelaine, Airel, Albirta, Aldena, Alean, Bloom, Bonnye, Briony, Clorine, Deliliah, Dulse, Ednamae, Eliabeth, Ellowyn, Elynn, Emagene, Emerlyn, Emerlynn, Ercel, Ercell, Ethelmae, Evamae, Evely, Everley, Everlie, Faun, Floriene, Genever, Gizel, Gladyce, Goldy, Graciemae, Greenley, Haiven, Hasset, Hawley, Hayde, Hayle, Hazeline, Hazlee, Hether, Hiedi, Imogean, Ivyrose, Kestrel, Lafern, Lauryl, Lenor, Lillien, Lovelle, Luceal, Macil, Maebel, Mahaley, Maize, Maizey, Margurette, Matha, Maydell, Mayvis, Mayzie, Mazell, Mazey, Merdis, Merrit, Murial, Myrtha, Novalyn, Oaklynne, Olivine, Pearlena, Poppi, Prim, Rainee, Rosaland, Rosealee, Roselie, Rosely, Rubyann, Vanilla, Wilsie, Wretha, Wyllow, Wynnie, Adlene, Briarrose, Earlee, Elliet, Emberlie, Estalene, Everlea, Greydis, Aizel, Arryn, Autumm, Autumnrose, Avenell, Bellarae, Cozy, Daisi, Daizee, Dovey, Eddis, Emberlin, Embyr, Ercie, Erdine, Ethell, Etoy, Evalin, Evergreen, Evolett, Ezelle, Genette, Gladie, Gladyes, Goldye, Gracilyn, Haset, Henchy, Hollan, Hollin, Iness, Inice, Ivylynn, Jenet, Jezel, Kauri, Lenis, Leotta, Lilias, Lillan, Lillyrose, Lilybelle, Lilygrace, Lilyian, Linnell, Loie, Loucille, Luceil, Lurie, Madell, Madolin, Maeci, Maeryn, Maevery, Mahogony, Maizley, Majel, Mayre, Maysel, Mayve, Merian, Mertha, Myldred, Myrel, Nolynn, Oaklei, Oleda, Olivene, Olivet, Rether, Riverly, Rosamae, Rosealie, Rosealyn, Rosealynn, Sorrel, Summerrose, Sunflower, Sybol, Teale, Tilia, Timberlynn, Unice, Verble, Verdine, Vivyan, Vylette, Vyolet
Brothers: Oliver, Silas, Everett, August, Theo, Asher, Ezra, Levi, Owen, Rowan, Emmett, Forrest, Greyson, Guy, Irvin, Jasper, Leland, Marshall, Roy, Warren, Alden, Arlen, Arlo, Berry, Brown, Buford, Burl, Buster, Carver, Dexter, Drexel, Early, Elbert, Elden, Ellwood, Elwood, Ever, Forest, Fox, Gardner, Garland, Golden, Harlan, Harlin, Haywood, Irving, Judson, Linden, Mervin, Millard, Milo, Montgomery, Murrell, Norris, Olen, Orval, Orvil, Rayford, Raylan, Royce, Ruel, Rye, Sanford, Shepherd, Sherwood, Stanton, Steward, Sylas, Thatcher, Vern, Vernard, Warner, Wilburn, Wiley, Wilton, Adrain, Alder, Ansel, Arlan, Arland, Arley, Ash, Barnett, Bear, Burnett, Burrell, Cedar, Chancey, Cloyd, Conway, Cypress, Deward, Dillard, Dorman, Durwood, Earlie, Elder, Elwin, Ezell, Furman, Gaines, Glenwood, Harland, Harlen, Harrell, Haskell, Hayward, Hazen, Heston, Heyward, Holt, Hosie, Hurley, Lennis, Link, Loring, Lyman, Mace, Manford, Mercer, Merl, Merrell, Merton, Milburn, Montie, Ozell, Perrin, Prentice, Rexford, Rivers, Roan, Ryver, Shade, Theodis, Verle, Wardell, Waylan, Westen, Wilder, Windell, Winton, Woodie, Woody, Wright, Wyman, Alger, Almond, Arlow, Ballard, Beauden, Beecher, Bensen, Bertis, Bland, Branch, Brier, Buel, Burlin, Burnis, Carrel, Chancy, Clarnce, Cleave, Clell, Clenton, Copper, Cotton, Curvin, Danner, Dashel, Deforest, Delmont, Derwood, Dickson, Elridge, Emerick, Emitt, Estle, Eual, Euel, Evertt, Ezzard, Filbert, Finneas, Fitz, Gable, Gaither, Garlin, Gates, Glade, Glenford, Halbert, Harden, Harless, Haskel, Hassel, Haynes, Hayze, Herson, Hosey, Hoyle, Hubbard, Jessup, Kennis, Lavere, Lilburn, Lillard, Marsh, Melburn, Melford, Merril, Monti, Moss, Murel, Murle, Murrel, Newt, Oak, Oaklen, Ogden, Olden, Ollis, Opie, Orman, Othel, Oval, Pervis, Purvis, Quenten, Quill, Quince, Revis, Rulon, Sterlin, Thorne, Thurlow, Tolbert, Vaden, Vearl, Vertis, Waddell, Waldon, Wilbern, Windle, Woods, Zaedyn, Aiken, Alben, Amish, Autrey, Banyan, Bartlett, Benford, Birch, Blease, Borden, Bueford, Burdell, Burleigh, Burley, Caswell, Chalmer, Clent, Colden, Comer, Corbet, Crandall, Deloss, Eldredge, Elvert, Ervie, Ethridge, Evrett, Fernie, Fields, Finch, Fread, Freeland, Gareld, Goodwin, Graylon, Haddon, Hanford, Hanzel, Harles, Harlis, Harvel, Harwood, Hassell, Hersey, Hollace, Holman, Huckleberry, Hyland, Inman, Jazper, Julez, Juniel, Kizer, Kline, Larnce, Leelan, Levii, Lilton, Loman, Loys, Lukis, Lynford, Mancel, Mansel, Marsden, Maxen, Mayford, Maylon, Meldon, Miner, Morse, Murlin, Murvin, Norval, Oakes, Oaklan, Oaklin, Oaks, Onix, Orbie, Ordell, Orvill, Percell, Purnell, Raynor, Red, Rolin, Rollan, Royston, Shermon, Snyder, Talton, Thorn, Tilton, Verlan, Vermon, Virl, Weller, Wilborn, Willson, Windel, Wood, Bearl, Burlie, Coal, Jewett, Leston, Merlon, Oaken, Olander, Rual, Acer, Almus, Ambers, Argyle, Atwell, Aulton, Ayvin, Barnell, Berlie, Brainard, Bruk, Burwell, Calden, Clavin, Cleaven, Clerance, Cliffard, Corbitt, Correll, Cosby, Cottrell, Dewell, Earmon, Earsel, Ervine, Felder, Field, Floyde, Garvis, Goble, Greene, Grove, Halton, Harce, Hasten, Hawthorn, Herley, Herron, Hershey, Hoyte, Hurshell, Huxson, Kenzel, Lanson, Leaf, Leaman, Lelend, Lomax, Loomis, Luvern, Mancil, Mearle, Meril, Merland, Milferd, Mirl, Moris, Normal, Okley, Olivander, Olman, Orvell, Philmore, Ralphie, Rector, Remer, Rolen, Tildon, Tunis, Twain, Varick, Vernor, Voris, Willet, Willett, Woodruff, Wyley, Yarrow
Names like Hazel
Names whose popularity has moved with Hazel's over the last 50 years.
