Hazel

Hazel has had an interesting ride on the U.S. popularity charts. An enormous success and Top 25 favorite over 100 years ago at the turn of the 20th century, poor old Hazel would start her decline into obscurity as the decades progressed. She finally fell off the Top 100 list in 1937 and by the 1970s Hazel was so passé that she would completely disappear from the naming charts altogether. Her hiatus would last for over 20 years. Fortunately, the trends now favor these delightfully charming old fashioned names, and Hazel is one of its beneficiaries. Only a generation ago did Americans picture Hazel, Esther, Olive, Ruby, Eleanor and Vivian at their grandparent’s Bingo game. Today, these same girls are sitting around preschool desks across America. And we are charmed! Not long ago considered laughably old-fashioned, Hazel has emerged as a 21st century darling. We applaud the parents with enough guts to go THIS old-fashioned. Hazel is so off-beat she’s cool. Montana, Minnesota, Wyoming, Oregon, Vermont and Utah would agree – she’s already a Top 100 favorite in those states!