Freya vs Hazel
Freya and Hazelcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Freya was ranked #3 and Hazel #97 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Freya was ranked #6 and Hazel #71 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Freya was ranked #49 and Hazel #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Freya was ranked #31 and Hazel #10 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Freya was ranked #10 and Hazel #169 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Freya was ranked #25 and Hazel #55 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Freya and Hazel over time
Freya and Hazel appear together in 5 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Freya reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Hazel in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Freya moved ahead of Hazel in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #110 and #98 the year before became #67 and #130.
- Longest-running competitions
Freya and Hazel were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #6 and #71.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Freya #5 in 2023, Hazel #71 in 2025.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1987–2025
Freya held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Hazel in 17.
Highest recorded here: Freya #12 in 2024, Hazel #44 in 2024.
The order changed in 2009: Freya moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #110 and #98; by 2009 that had become #67 and #130.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Freya #25, Hazel #55.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Freya held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Hazel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Freya #5 in 2023, Hazel #71 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Freya #6, Hazel #71.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 2016–2025
Freya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Hazel in 10.
Highest recorded here: Freya #38 in 2023, Hazel #8 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Freya #49, Hazel #8.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 2014–2023
Freya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Hazel in 10.
Highest recorded here: Freya #22 in 2021, Hazel #10 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Freya #31, Hazel #10.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 2008–2024
Freya held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Hazel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Freya #10 in 2020, Hazel #169 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Freya #10, Hazel #169.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Freya
Pairs where Freya shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Freya vs Jordan
In 1996 they stood at #118 and #126 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #6 and #4201.
Freya · Jordan · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Freya vs Charlie
In 1996 they stood at #118 and #113 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #6 and #747.
Freya · Charlie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Freya vs Ivy
Freya and Ivy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Freya · Ivy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Freya vs Matilda
Freya and Matilda both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Freya · Matilda · 31 shared years, 1987–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Hazel
Pairs where Hazel shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Hazel vs Heather
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Hazel rose about as far as Heather fell — from #154 and #167 in 1964 to #55 and #325 in 2025.
Hazel · Heather · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Lisa vs Hazel
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Hazel rose about as far as Lisa fell — from #222 and #154 in 1964 to #443 and #55 in 2025.
Lisa · Hazel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Hazel vs Victoria
Hazel and Victoria changed places 18 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #55 and #166.
Hazel · Victoria · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Evelyn vs Hazel
Evelyn and Hazel changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #94 and #55.
Evelyn · Hazel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Freya | Hazel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'lady' or 'noblewoman'. | From the English word for the hazel tree, or the light brown colour associated with it, ultimately from Old English 'hæsel'. Created as a given name in the 19th century. |
| Origin | Old Norse | English (nature name) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈfreɪə/ | /ˈheɪ.zəl/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Freyja, Freja | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Girls #1 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #8 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Freya is recorded with a Old Norse origin, while Hazel is recorded with a English (nature name) origin.
- Freya has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Hazel.
- Freya's recorded meaning differs from Hazel's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Freya a "high" Data Confidence level and Hazel a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Freya
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #488 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2024–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Scotland, in 2025 (recorded 2024–2025).
Scotland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #6 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Hazel
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #154 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2014–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2024 (recorded 2014–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #71 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls