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. It became a popular name in English-speaking countries during the 19th century, along with other names of plants or trees used for girls. The name was among the 25 most popular names for girls in the United States at the turn of the 20th century. It declined in usage in that country after the 1960s but rose again in usage after 1998. It has ranked among the top 50 names for newborn girls in the United States since 2017. It also was occasionally used for boys in the United States between 1900 and 1940. The name has also increased in popularity in recent years for girls in other English-speaking countries such as Ireland. Variations include Hazell, Hazelle, Hasel and Heizle. Elaborations in use in the United States include Hazelgrace, Hazelmae, and Hazelmarie. Other names in use such as Hazelee, Hazeleigh, Hazelyn and Hazelynn might in some instances be variants. People Hazel Blears (b. 1956), British politician and Labour MP for Salford Hazel Brown (1942–2022), Trinbagonian women's and consumer rights activist Hazel Byford (b. 1941), Conservative member of House of Lords, Britain Hazel Carby (b. 1948), professor of African American Studies and of American Studies Hazel Carter (1894–1918), American army stowaway and writer Hazel Court (1926–2008), British actress Hazel Crowney, British-born Bollywood (India) film actress Hazel Dickens (1925–2011), American bluegrass singer Hazel Findlay, British climber and mountaineer nickname of Hedley Hazelden (1915–2001), British test pilot and Second World War pilot Hazel Gaynor (b. 1971), English author in Ireland Hazel Hayes (b. 1985), Irish YouTuber, filmmaker, and author Hazel Hutchins, Canadian children's author Hazel Irvine (b. 1965), British television presenter Hazel Keech, British-Mauritian film actress Hazel Bryan Massery, protesting student caught in a legendary photograph during the integration crisis Hazel McCallion (1921–2023), mayor of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Hazel Miner (1904-1920), who died saving her siblings during a spring blizzard in Center, Oliver County, North Dakota Hazel O'Connor, British singer-songwriter and actress Hazel R. O'Leary, former United States Secretary of Energy Hazel Perfect (d. 2015), British mathematician Hazel Scott (1920–1981), jazz and classical pianist and singer Hazel Schmoll (1890–1990), American botanist Hazel Mountain Walker (1889–1980), among the first African-American women to pass the Ohio bar Hazel Wood Waterman (1865–1948), American architect Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman (1886–1974), American tennis