| Aubrey | Hazel | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Elf ruler | The hazel tree |
| Origin | English | English |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | AW-bree | HAY-zul |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1889 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2012 (8,061) | 1918 (7,615) |
| In 2025 | 2,003 | 6,318 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Aubrey | Hazel |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 17,235 | 36,638 |
| 2010s | 65,935 | 33,919 |
| 2000s | 29,537 | 5,930 |
| 1990s | 10,906 | 1,683 |
| 1980s | 6,802 | 1,236 |
| 1970s | 2,055 | 1,489 |
| 1960s | 115 | 3,674 |
| 1950s | 92 | 9,135 |
| 1940s | 112 | 16,657 |
| 1930s | 174 | 28,567 |
| 1920s | 277 | 58,984 |
| 1910s | 177 | 57,068 |
| 1900s | 74 | 23,802 |
| 1890s | 19 | 20,154 |
| 1880s | 5 | 3,644 |
Aubrey comes from the Germanic Alberic, “elf ruler” or “ruler of supernatural beings.” Once a boy’s name, it is now chiefly given to girls.
Hazel comes from the hazel tree and its nut, from the Old English hæsel. One of the botanical names that flourished in the Victorian era, it has enjoyed a strong revival.
Hazel is more popular than Aubrey today: about 6,318 US babies were given the name Hazel in 2025, compared with 2,003 named Aubrey.
Aubrey means Elf ruler (English origin), while Hazel means The hazel tree (English origin).
In US records, Aubrey first appears in 1889 and Hazel in 1880, so Hazel has the longer recorded history.