Azul
Primarily a girl's name of Spanish origin with 4,378 recorded births. Also given to 299 boys.
Meaning & Origin
a subdivision and city in Buenos Aires province, Argentina
Azul is a girl's and boy's baby name of Spanish origin, from the Spanish word for 'blue' — from Arabic lāzaward (lapis lazuli, blue), making it a color name with origins in the precious blue gemstone prized since antiquity.
Color names for children have been gaining momentum — Blue, Violet, Scarlett, Sienna — and Azul carries the rich, deep beauty of the color blue in its Spanish form. It's widely used in Latin America and increasingly in U.S. Latino communities, and its association with sky, sea, and infinite depth gives it a serene, beautiful character.
EtymologyShow more
Azul appeared in SSA records in 1995, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Spanish roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
Azul’s 4,378 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Azul climbed 1150 spots in the last 20 years — from #2427 to #1277.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 784 | #1446 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 1,767 | #1411 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 1,749 | #2003 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 78 | #6432 | — |
The Story of Azul
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2008, Azul is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Azul are most likely born between 1998 and 2018.
How rare is Azul?
Only about 1 in every 19,890 babies born in 2024 was named Azul — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1995, peaked in the 2010s with 1,767 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Azul by the numbers
- Would fill 91 school buses
- Meeting one Azul per day would take 12 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(30 years, 1995–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 181 | #1277 |
| 2023 | 170 | #1331 |
| 2022 | 187 | #1279 |
| 2021 | 137 | #1534 |
| 2020 | 109 | #1810 |
| 2019 | 136 | #1570 |
| 2018 | 114 | #1789 |
| 2017 | 112 | #1834 |
| 2016 | 114 | #1816 |
| 2015 | 162 | #1426 |
| 2014 | 162 | #1409 |
| 2013 | 180 | #1302 |
| 2012 | 227 | #1089 |
| 2011 | 234 | #1055 |
| 2010 | 326 | #822 |
| 2009 | 358 | #792 |
| 2008 | 497 | #615 |
| 2007 | 405 | #723 |
| 2006 | 94 | #2084 |
| 2005 | 75 | #2360 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Azul as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Azul has also been given to 299 boys in the U.S. since 2003.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Azul a boy's or girl's name?
When was Azul most popular?
How popular is the name Azul?
Can Azul be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1995–2024