How to say it
a · ZAL · ya
əˈzeɪl.jə
Feminine
Azalea
The azalea flower
What it means
A flower name from the bright azalea shrub, whose own name comes from Greek azaleos, 'dry.'
Azalea is a botanical name from the flowering shrub, which botanists named from Greek azaleos, 'dry,' because it was thought to thrive in dry soil. It belongs to the showy flower-name set with Dahlia and Magnolia and reads bold and a little exotic. The rapper Iggy Azalea (a stage name) gave it a recent pop-culture hook. Aza and Lea make easy shorts.
How to spell Azalea
The standard spelling is Azalea. Common variants include Azaleah, Azalia, but Azalea is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #278 in 2025, currently #278 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Aza and Lea both work as shorts.
- Pop culture
Rapper Iggy Azalea took the flower as a stage surname.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Azalea the vivid flowering shrub the name is taken from
Spelling variants
- Azaleah
- Azalia
Names with the same feeling
See Azalea from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Azalea mean?
- A flower name from the bright azalea shrub, whose own name comes from Greek azaleos, 'dry.'
- What does Azalea mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Azalea means "The azalea flower." Azalea is a botanical name from the flowering shrub, which botanists named from Greek azaleos, 'dry,' because it was thought to thrive in dry soil. It belongs to the showy flower-name set with Dahlia and Magnolia and reads bold and a little exotic. The rapper Iggy Azalea (a stage name) gave it a recent pop-culture hook. Aza and Lea make easy shorts.
- How do you pronounce Azalea?
- Azalea is pronounced əˈzeɪl.jə. Say it as a-ZAL-ya, with the stress on the "zal" syllable.
- How do you spell Azalea?
- The standard spelling is Azalea. Common spelling variants include Azaleah, Azalia.
- Is Azalea a boy or girl name?
- Azalea is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Azalea?
- Azalea ranked #278 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.