How to say it
HAY · zul
ˈheɪ.zəl
Feminine
Hazel
Hazel tree
What it means
From the Old English hæsel, the hazel tree, named after the nut. A botanical name with a quiet, woody sound.
Hazel joined the Victorian-era wave of nature names (Lily, Violet, Rose, Daisy, Willow) and stayed in regular use through the early 20th century before falling out of fashion. The 2010s revival put the name back into the US top fifty for girls. Hazel Grace Lancaster in The Fault in Our Stars (2014) gave the name a modern emotional anchor for a generation of readers. Rarely shortened; Hazel is short enough already.
How to spell Hazel
The standard spelling is Hazel. Common variants include Hazle, Haisel, but Hazel is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #18 in 1897, currently #21 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
- Pop culture
Hazel Grace Lancaster, the protagonist of The Fault in Our Stars (2012), is the strongest modern association for the under-30 set.
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.
- Hazel Grace Lancaster Lead of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars
- Hazel (Watership Down) Chief rabbit of Richard Adams's 1972 novel
Spelling variants
- Hazle
- Haisel
Names with the same feeling
See Hazel from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Hazel mean?
- From the Old English hæsel, the hazel tree, named after the nut. A botanical name with a quiet, woody sound.
- What does Hazel mean in Old English?
- In Old English, Hazel means "Hazel tree." Hazel joined the Victorian-era wave of nature names (Lily, Violet, Rose, Daisy, Willow) and stayed in regular use through the early 20th century before falling out of fashion. The 2010s revival put the name back into the US top fifty for girls. Hazel Grace Lancaster in The Fault in Our Stars (2014) gave the name a modern emotional anchor for a generation of readers. Rarely shortened; Hazel is short enough already.
- How do you pronounce Hazel?
- Hazel is pronounced ˈheɪ.zəl. Say it as HAY-zul, with the stress on the "hay" syllable.
- How do you spell Hazel?
- The standard spelling is Hazel. Common spelling variants include Hazle, Haisel.
- Is Hazel a boy or girl name?
- Hazel is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Hazel?
- Hazel ranked #21 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.