Hazel
Say it: HAY-zel/ˈheɪzəl/
GirlMeans hazel tree5 letters2 syllables
#55
in Ireland (2025)
88
babies in 2025
#45
best rank (2024)
3,540
babies since 1964
Up 46
10-year rank change
Hazel through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 88 | #55 |
| 2024 | 108 | #45 |
| 2023 | 77 | #70 |
| 2022 | 69 | #80 |
| 2021 | 78 | #76 |
| 2020 | 56 | #97 |
| 2019 | 60 | #96 |
| 2018 | 60 | #101 |
| 2017 | 71 | #84 |
| 2016 | 56 | #105 |
| 2015 | 63 | #101 |
| 2014 | 48 | #123 |
| 2013 | 49 | #124 |
| 2012 | 34 | #172 |
| 2011 | 42 | #145 |
| 2010 | 40 | #153 |
| 2009 | 50 | #130 |
| 2008 | 69 | #98 |
| 2007 | 69 | #87 |
| 2006 | 67 | #88 |
| 2005 | 60 | #99 |
| 2004 | 52 | #102 |
| 2003 | 35 | #132 |
| 2002 | 47 | #107 |
| 2001 | 54 | #89 |
| 2000 | 43 | #101 |
| 1999 | 32 | #126 |
| 1998 | 32 | #124 |
| 1997 | 70 | #78 |
| 1996 | 53 | #102 |
| 1995 | 61 | #91 |
| 1994 | 56 | #104 |
| 1993 | 57 | #100 |
| 1992 | 59 | #100 |
| 1991 | 60 | #104 |
| 1990 | 63 | #102 |
| 1989 | 72 | #97 |
| 1988 | 65 | #103 |
| 1987 | 55 | #114 |
| 1986 | 62 | #105 |
| 1985 | 57 | #116 |
| 1984 | 65 | #107 |
| 1983 | 76 | #99 |
| 1982 | 74 | #107 |
| 1981 | 65 | #119 |
| 1980 | 67 | #116 |
| 1979 | 58 | #131 |
| 1978 | 65 | #117 |
| 1977 | 69 | #114 |
| 1976 | 87 | #95 |
| 1975 | 85 | #96 |
| 1974 | 75 | #111 |
| 1973 | 62 | #126 |
| 1972 | 46 | #142 |
| 1971 | 43 | #151 |
| 1970 | 32 | #160 |
| 1969 | 32 | #166 |
| 1968 | 29 | #164 |
| 1967 | 39 | #138 |
| 1966 | 29 | #154 |
| 1965 | 19 | #180 |
| 1964 | 24 | #154 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Hazel mean?
Hazel tree
English, from the hazel tree, Old English hæsel.
Say it right
HAYzel
The story of Hazel
Hazel is named after the hazel tree, from the Old English hæsel. The word also describes the light greenish-brown colour of its nuts, often used for eyes. It became a girls’ name in the nineteenth century, when plant and tree names were in fashion across the English-speaking world.
The hazel has a special place in Irish lore. In the story of the Salmon of Knowledge, the salmon gained its wisdom by eating hazelnuts that fell into its pool, and Fionn mac Cumhaill gained that wisdom in turn. In Irish the tree is coll.
Hazel has been given in Ireland right through the CSO records, usually hovering near the top 100. Its best year so far was 2024, when 108 girls were named Hazel and it reached number 44. It is much rarer in Northern Ireland, where it was 132nd in 2025, its highest place there.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Hazel (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Hazel (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Hazel | 88 | 3,540 |
In Northern Ireland
#132 in 2025 with 15 babies. Best rank #132 (2025); 74 babies since 2008.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.