Hazel

At a Glance

Meaning

The hazel tree, and by extension its light-brown color

Origin

Old English

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

HAY-zelListen

Hazel is an Old English name that refers to the hazel tree and, by extension, its light-brown color. You may have come across the claim that Hazel means 'wisdom,' drawn from Celtic folklore about hazelnuts — but that's lore attached to the tree, not the meaning of the name itself, which simply points to the tree and its color. It's pronounced HAY-zel (IPA /ˈheɪzəl/).

Meaning & Origin of Hazel

Meaning: The hazel tree, and by extension its light-brown color.

Origin: Old English.

A common claim: Hazel is widely said to symbolize or mean 'wisdom,' tied to Celtic folklore about the hazel tree and hazelnuts. Actually: That's a folklore association layered onto the tree, not the name's actual meaning — Hazel denotes the hazel tree (and its light-brown color), not 'wisdom.'

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Hazel

Popularity of Hazel

Hazel hit its historical high at #18 back in 1897, when 2,339 girls were given the name; in 2024 it sat just one spot lower at #19, but with 6,401 girls named Hazel, nearly triple the count from its 1897 peak.

Names Like Hazel

These names share Hazel’s style, era or origin.

• Harley
• Fern
• Hadley
• Holly
• Ivey
• Ivy

FAQ

What does the name Hazel mean?

The hazel tree, and by extension its light-brown color. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Hazel?

Hazel is pronounced HAY-zel (IPA: /ˈheɪzəl/).

Is Hazel a popular name right now?

Hazel is near its all-time peak (#18 in 1897), ranked #19 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Hazel Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Hazel, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.