Hazel is a primarily female given name meaning "hazel", from the name of the tree or the color. It is derived from the Old English hæsel.[1] It became a popular name in English-speaking countries duringe the late 19th and early 20th centuries, along with other names of plants or trees used for girls.
The name was the 211th most popular name for girls born in the United States in 2011. It was last popular at the turn of the 20th century, when it was among the 25 most popular names for girls. It declined in usage in the United States after the 1960s, but has been rising in popularity since 1998. The name ranked at No. 138 in 1990 on a census of popular names for women of all ages in the United States. It also was occasionally used for boys in the United States between 1900 and 1940. It was ranked as the 99th most popular name for girls born in Ireland in 2005.[2]