Azalea Name Meaning

Azalea means “dry” in Greek, but it also has a deeper meaning. In many cultures, azaleas are associated with femininity, delicate beauty, and the arrival of spring. It is also often used to symbolize a woman who is strong and independent, yet still elegant and refined.

Origins of the Name Azalea

Azalea, also spelled Azaleah, is of Greek origin, derived from the word “azaleos” which means “dry.” In Greek mythology, Azalea was a nymph who was transformed into a flower by the goddess of the hunt, Artemis. This flower was said to bloom in the dry, rocky terrain of the mountains, making it a symbol of resilience and beauty in harsh conditions.

Popularity of the Name Azalea

The name Azalea has been around for centuries, but it wasn’t until the late 19th century that it began to gain popularity as a baby name. This was due in part to the Victorian love of botanical names, as well as the popularity of the azalea flower itself.

Azalea’s popularity continued to grow in the early 20th century, peaking in the 1920s. However, it began to decline in the following decades and by the 1980s, it was considered a fairly uncommon name. But today, Azalea is making a comeback as a unique and interesting name choice.

Azalea is a popular name in pop culture, as well as in literature and art. In literature, Azalea Adair is a character in the popular novel series “The Luxe” by Anna Godbersen. In music, Azalea Banks is a successful rapper and singer. And in art, the famous painting “Azaleas” by Claude Monet is a masterpiece of the Impressionist movement.

Final Thoughts on the Name Azalea

In conclusion, Azalea is a beautiful and unique name with a rich history and meaning. It symbolizes femininity, resilience, and beauty, and has been a popular choice throughout the centuries. Its recent resurgence in popularity makes it a perfect choice for parents looking for a name that is both traditional and modern. So, if you’re considering naming your little girl Azalea, go for it! She’s sure to be a strong, independent, and elegant woman, just like the flower she was named after.

Infographic of Azalea name meaning, which is “Moderate, abstemious, thrifty.” An allusion to the plant of the same name which demands very little moisture; from the Greek azaleos, dry.
Ask your friends & family about Azalea…

Azalea Name Popularity

How popular is the name Azalea? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 0 0%
1911 — 0 0%
1912 — 0 0%
1913 — 0 0%
1914 — 0 0%
1915 — 0 0%
1916 — 0 0%
1917 1,471 5 0.0005%
1918 — 0 0%
1919 — 0 0%
1920 1,631 5 0.0004%
1921 1,622 5 0.0004%
1922 — 0 0%
1923 — 0 0%
1924 — 0 0%
1925 — 0 0%
1926 — 0 0%
1927 — 0 0%
1928 — 0 0%
1929 — 0 0%
1930 — 0 0%
1931 — 0 0%
1932 — 0 0%
1933 — 0 0%
1934 — 0 0%
1935 — 0 0%
1936 — 0 0%
1937 — 0 0%
1938 — 0 0%
1939 — 0 0%
1940 — 0 0%
1941 — 0 0%
1942 — 0 0%
1943 — 0 0%
1944 — 0 0%
1945 — 0 0%
1946 — 0 0%
1947 — 0 0%
1948 — 0 0%
1949 — 0 0%
1950 1,941 5 0.0003%
1951 1,974 5 0.0003%
1952 — 0 0%
1953 1,689 8 0.0005%
1954 — 0 0%
1955 — 0 0%
1956 1,862 7 0.0004%
1957 — 0 0%
1958 — 0 0%
1959 — 0 0%
1960 — 0 0%
1961 — 0 0%
1962 — 0 0%
1963 — 0 0%
1964 — 0 0%
1965 — 0 0%
1966 — 0 0%
1967 — 0 0%
1968 — 0 0%
1969 — 0 0%
1970 — 0 0%
1971 — 0 0%
1972 — 0 0%
1973 — 0 0%
1974 2,694 5 0.0004%
1975 — 0 0%
1976 — 0 0%
1977 — 0 0%
1978 — 0 0%
1979 — 0 0%
1980 — 0 0%
1981 2,509 8 0.0005%
1982 — 0 0%
1983 — 0 0%
1984 — 0 0%
1985 — 0 0%
1986 — 0 0%
1987 2,518 11 0.0007%
1988 2,875 7 0.0004%
1989 3,152 6 0.0004%
1990 2,586 13 0.0008%
1991 2,308 19 0.0012%
1992 2,535 15 0.0009%
1993 2,456 16 0.001%
1994 2,347 18 0.0012%
1995 2,222 20 0.0013%
1996 2,424 16 0.0011%
1997 2,021 28 0.0019%
1998 1,986 30 0.002%
1999 1,879 36 0.0024%
2000 1,998 33 0.0022%
2001 1,865 41 0.0027%
2002 1,675 55 0.0037%
2003 1,863 45 0.003%
2004 1,742 53 0.0035%
2005 1,449 85 0.0056%
2006 1,711 61 0.0039%
2007 1,546 82 0.0052%
2008 1,509 89 0.0058%
2009 1,538 81 0.0054%
2010 1,414 95 0.0066%
2011 1,168 140 0.0098%
2012 867 243 0.0171%
2013 607 411 0.0289%
2014 520 543 0.0373%
2015 566 483 0.0332%
2016 561 492 0.0341%
2017 571 461 0.033%
2018 488 566 0.0412%
2019 500 535 0.0395%
2020 481 580 0.0456%
2021 412 684 0.056%
2022 396 750 0.0569%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Azalea

If you like Azalea, you’ll love these other names like Azalea.

What names are variants of Azalea?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Azalea.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Azaleia

Dry

Greek

Azalia

Reserved by God

Greek

What names sound like Azalea?

If you like how Azalea sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Azalea.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Asela

Donkey foal

Latin

Azelia

Not jealous

Hebrew

Izola

Lump of earth

Italian

Lists With Azalea

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Azalea.

Siblings of Azalea

Mamas with kids named Azalea also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Keanu

The breeze

Polynesian

Adonis

Lord

Greek

6 Comments

  1. Before our marriage, husband and I were planting Azaleas in his moms bckyd. We agreed to ourselves that if we ever have a daughter, that would be her name. Sure enough, that’s what we did but because I wanted the Hebrew meaning and I wanted her name to be unique, I changed the spelling: Azeliah. Like Stephanie, above mentioned, this girl was a kicker and feisty, lively one. Today, she is 18 yrs old and she’s the one that brings so much drama and fun into our lives. Her friends nickname her Zee.

    Reply

  2. I had spent hours upon hours trying to find the perfect, culturally appropriate name that fit all of my picky criteria and that hubby and I both loved. I was trying to find a somewhat uncommon name that wasn’t weird. As a teacher, I also wanted a name that I didn’t have much association to. I randomly stumbled upon Azalea on a name forum a few weeks before baby was due. I had actually never heard the name before but instantly fell in love! We love that there are so many nickname options as well!

    Reply

  3. We chose the name Azalea, because we wanted a flower baby! We also wanted her to have a multitude of nicknames. My favorite is Zaylee.

    Reply

  4. My daughter is a spring baby, born in April. I wanted an uncommon name that would stand out for our first born. I’m an avid reader of romance and young adult genres, and one name that stood out from a book I was reading at the time was Lazalea- my husband did not like this name because he thought it sounded too much like the word Lazy. Later I was reading another book where a scene was described specifically naming a bush called an Azalea bush, I didn’t know what flower that was so I looked it up. Beautiful flower name, for a beautiful flower and it bloomed in different colors. Both my husband and I were set on this girl name and when we saw her face for the first time, it was a perfect fit.

    Reply

  5. Azalea got her name after we gave out little azalea buds at her baby shower. We had told everyone she was baby “A”, since we thought we would name her Autumn. Someone asked if her nameveas goingbtk be Azalea thinking we were being clever at the baby shower. Once we heard it we loved it, and Autumn seemed too sweet for our feisty little girl who kicked mom constantly in the womb. Azalea fits her much better. We do have to say it multiple times when introducing her to new people but the name has many nicknames; hers are Zalea, Zales, and Zozo.

    Reply

    • I love my name & it fits me well. I’ve been told in the past I have a beautiful name. My granddaughter 2 of them have the middle name Azalea yet they aren’t called Azalea but by there 1st name. I once was looking for the meaning of my name & I ran a cross a meaning that was surprising Azalea meaning “democracy” in Arab. Thank you, for educating me on its origin. Azalea

      Reply

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