Name of the Day: Hazel
Once upon a time, Hazel was your granny’s name. And what’s more, while you might consider bestowing Great Aunt Elizabeth’s moniker on your future child, no matter how much you loved Granny, no way would you do that to your little girl!
Except that time marches onward, and in 2008, Hazel sounds fresh instead of fusty.
This is one worth dusting off - whether you have a convenient Hazel to honor or not.
Hazel has been hot before. It broke into the Top 100 back in 1886, entered the Top 25 in 1893 and stayed there until 1912. In fact, it didn’t leave the Top 100 until 1936. Hazel was the Danielle of her day.
By the 50s, however, Hazel was on her way out, and by 1975, she’d fallen out of the Top 1000 entirely.
Yet it’s not surprising that this name is making a comeback. Not only does it boast a long history of use, but it is a legitimate nature name, too. While it is not one of the more flamboyant botanical choices - like Violet or Briony - it is a familiar and unusual one.
It’s a place name - there are more than a dozen Hazels in the US, often paired with Green, Park or Run. Speaking of Green, it’s a color name, too - not as showy as Scarlet or Indigo.
Hazel also appeals to parents who like the simplicity of Hannah and Rachel, but dislike the idea of their daughter sharing her name with half her class.
Little wonder then, that Hazel is back. After years of obscurity, it re-entered the Top 1000 in 1998 and by 2006, had climbed to an impressive 465.
Not only are we confidently calling Hazel an official comeback kid, we’re calling this one to watch for 2010.
Filed under: Hot Names of 2010, Names for Girls, Names of the Day |
Tags: Hazel
I’ve thought Hazel was kitschy and ripe for a comeback way before Pretty Woman’s daughter. Goes right along with names like Clara, Nora, and Violet. Not so long ago, Sophie was seen as hopelessly dated and “old-lady.”
I think Hazel, Nora, Agatha, and Edna are going to come back. I think the elementary school kids of today will name their kids Agatha and Edna and Hazel. They’re really cute.
We’d looked at Mabel, Hazel and Zelda before deciding to pare our soon-to-be-born daughter’s name to “Zel”. It’s reminiscent of the older names which contain that syllable, but can stand on it’s own and sounds contemporary.
I wish, however, that we’d known how many Zellas, Bellas, Gisellas, Ellas and even Vellas we were going to meet in the months following her birth.
Zel - interesting! It does have a throwback feel.
Me, I’m a huge fan of Zelda and would use it in a heartbeat, but my husband just thinks video game whenever I suggest it.
There are a ton of rhyming names out there - “el” seems to be ascendant in feminine names right now. Betcha we’ll be meeting some Nells, too, especially post-Helena Bonham Carter’s choice.
Still, any name with a Z at the top stands out!