Azalea
Meaning: not confirmed (origin debated)
About the name Azalea
The origin of Azalea is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to Greek roots, with the meaning “Dry (the flowering shrub)”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Azalea we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a nature, unique feel. In 2025, Azalea ranked #278 for girls in the US, with 1,109 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2025. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Azalea were girls.
- US rank 2025
- #278
- In 2015
- #580
- Babies in 2025
- 1,109
Popularity of Azalea, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Names similar to Azalea
- Anthea“blossom”
- Evanthia“good-, well- + blossom”
- Margareta“pearl”
- Aglaia“splendour, beauty”
- Alexia“helper, defender”
- Alexondra“to defend + man”
- AriadneOrigin debated
- Cindi“Cynthian (of or pertaining to Mount Cynthus, a mountain of Delos, celebrated as the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis)”
- Cindy“Cynthian (of or pertaining to Mount Cynthus, a mountain of Delos, celebrated as the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis)”
- Cyndi“Cynthian (of or pertaining to Mount Cynthus, a mountain of Delos, celebrated as the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis)”
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.