Hazel Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Hazel is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Hazel?
Hazel is spelled H-A-Z-E-L. The name has 5 letters.
Hazel at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Hazel literally refers to the hazel tree or the hazelnut derived from this tree.
- Origin
- The name Hazel is derived from the Old English word for the hazel tree, which was common in Europe and known for its nuts and wood.
- Pronunciation
- HAY-zuhl · 2 syllables
Hazel Popularity in 2025
Rank#21
Recorded Births6,318
Rank#4,249
Recorded Births24
- Girls usage fell 2 places to #21 and recorded 114 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 1,414 places to #4,249 and recorded 21 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Hazel Mean?
Hazel literally refers to the hazel tree or the hazelnut derived from this tree.
Origin: The name Hazel is derived from the Old English word for the hazel tree, which was common in Europe and known for its nuts and wood.
How Do You Pronounce Hazel?
PronunciationHAY-zuhl
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Hazel?
- History
- Hazel has been used as a given name in English-speaking countries since at least the 19th century, reflecting a broader trend of using plant and tree names as personal names.
Hazel Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 6,318 | #21 |
| 2025 | Boys | 24 | #4,249 |
| 2024 | Girls | 6,432 | #19 |
| 2024 | Boys | 45 | #2,835 |
| 2023 | Girls | 6,193 | #18 |
| 2023 | Boys | 24 | #4,343 |
| 2022 | Girls | 6,161 | #27 |
| 2022 | Boys | 28 | #3,879 |
| 2021 | Girls | 6,015 | #28 |
| 2021 | Boys | 31 | #3,582 |
| 2020 | Girls | 5,519 | #31 |
| 2020 | Boys | 19 | #4,855 |
| 2019 | Girls | 5,464 | #33 |
| 2019 | Boys | 6 | #10,803 |
| 2018 | Girls | 4,951 | #42 |
| 2018 | Boys | 16 | #5,540 |
| 2017 | Girls | 5,047 | #43 |
| 2017 | Boys | 15 | #5,788 |
| 2016 | Girls | 4,682 | #52 |
| 2016 | Boys | 17 | #5,318 |
| 2015 | Girls | 4,302 | #63 |
| 2015 | Boys | 12 | #6,676 |
| 2014 | Girls | 2,909 | #105 |
| 2014 | Boys | 8 | #8,781 |
When Was Hazel Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1918 · Girls
7,615 recorded births
National rank #33
1919 · Girls
7,430 recorded births
National rank #32
1921 · Girls
7,341 recorded births
National rank #34
1920 · Girls
7,308 recorded births
National rank #34
Where Hazel Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| WY | #4 | 15 |
| ID | #6 | 82 |
| UT | #7 | 148 |
| ND | #7 | 29 |
| OR | #8 | 110 |
| MN | #10 | 176 |
| IN | #11 | 178 |
| IA | #11 | 90 |