Holding steady, #13,208 for girls today.
Popularity of Mazel since 1912
Babies named Mazel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 95 |
| 1920s | 173 |
| 1930s | 81 |
| 1940s | 42 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 6 |
Meaning & origin
Mazel is a rare Yiddish name meaning 'luck', drawn from the Hebrew mazzāl. Its peak year on record was 1923, when it ranked highest in usage, though still uncommon. In 2025, it ranked 13,208th, with a 1-in-267,878 incidence, reflecting its stable but scarce presence. The name first appeared in U.S. data in 1912 and has maintained a low profile ever since, never breaching the top 10,000. Despite its scarcity, Mazel carries a distinctive cultural resonance for families honoring Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, and its sound aligns with other short, zesty names like Shoshana and Tzipporah. Its straightforward pronunciation and cheerful meaning have kept it in occasional use without a major revival.
Mazel derives from the Hebrew word mazzāl (מַזָּל), meaning 'constellation', 'destiny', or 'luck'. Via Yiddish, where mazel means 'luck', the name entered English-speaking communities among Ashkenazi Jews. It is famously used in the expression 'mazel tov' (good luck/congratulations), but as a given name it has remained rare, used occasionally since the early 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mazy, Maz
Variants: Mazal, Mazzel
Sibling names for Mazel
Names that share Mazel's style, for a brother or sister.
