| Hazel | Scarlett | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The hazel tree | Scarlet, red |
| Origin | English | English |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | HAY-zul | SKAR-lit |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1937 |
| Peak year | 1918 (7,615) | 2017 (7,721) |
| In 2025 | 6,318 | 5,644 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Hazel | Scarlett |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 36,638 | 38,284 |
| 2010s | 33,919 | 58,287 |
| 2000s | 5,930 | 8,595 |
| 1990s | 1,683 | 2,257 |
| 1980s | 1,236 | 1,207 |
| 1970s | 1,489 | 923 |
| 1960s | 3,674 | 988 |
| 1950s | 9,135 | 560 |
| 1940s | 16,657 | 566 |
| 1930s | 28,567 | 20 |
| 1920s | 58,984 | 0 |
| 1910s | 57,068 | 0 |
| 1900s | 23,802 | 0 |
| 1890s | 20,154 | 0 |
| 1880s | 3,644 | 0 |
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.
An English occupational surname for a dyer or seller of scarlet cloth, now used for its rich red.
Hazel is more popular than Scarlett today: about 6,318 US babies were given the name Hazel in 2025, compared with 5,644 named Scarlett.
Hazel means The hazel tree (English origin), while Scarlett means Scarlet, red (English origin).
In US records, Hazel first appears in 1880 and Scarlett in 1937, so Hazel has the longer recorded history.