Compare Names
Search for up to 4 names to compare side by side, or browse a curated comparison below.
- Hazel
- Matilda
| Field | Hazel | Matilda |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | 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. | Commonly interpreted as 'strength in battle' or 'mighty in battle'. |
| Origin | English (nature name) | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈheɪ.zəl/ | /məˈtɪldə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Tilly, Mathilde |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #8 (2025) | United Kingdom #8 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Hazel is recorded with a English (nature name) origin, while Matilda is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Hazel has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Matilda.
- Hazel's recorded meaning differs from Matilda'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 Hazel a "medium" Data Confidence level and Matilda a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
Name rivalries — pairs whose positions genuinely passed each other →
Curated comparisons
Two of the UK's most enduringly popular girls' names, both with a soft, flowing sound and a similar era of peak popularity — the choice usually comes down to origin story and nickname preference.
Both are currently the most-used boys' names in several English-speaking countries. Oliver leans slightly more classic/literary; Noah is shorter and more globally portable.
Both short, currently-fashionable UK names — Freya carries Norse mythological weight, while Isla is a Scottish place name that reads as slightly softer and more understated.
Both carry regal, 'strength'-adjacent meanings and centuries of royal usage — Alexander is the more internationally familiar choice, Magnus the more distinctive.