NomOrigine Background

Origin and meaning of the name Hazael

What is the origin of the name Hazael?

The name Hazael is of Hebrew origin and is derived from the Hebrew words "haza" meaning pride or vanity, and "el" meaning God. In the Old Testament, King Hazael of Aram-Damascus is the most well-known person with this name. He is mentioned in 2 Kings 8:7-15, 9:12-13, and 10:32-36.

Learn more about the origin of the name Hazael

The meaning, etymology, and origin of the name Hazael

The name Hazael is of Hebrew origin, derived from the root word "hazahal" which means 'God sees' or 'vision of God'. In the Old Testament, King Hazael is mentioned as the ruler of Aram-Damascus during the reign of King Jehu of Israel. He played a significant role in Biblical history, being the one who killed the prophet Elisha and causing great distress to the Israelites. The name Hazael gained further popularity due to its association with this historical figure, and has been used as a given name among Jewish communities, particularly among those following Sephardic traditions.

Character traits associated with the name Hazael

Hazael is often portrayed as a cunning and resourceful leader in various historical texts, most notably in the Hebrew Bible. As the king of Aram-Damascus, he demonstrated strategic acumen by skillfully maneuvering alliances and conflicts with surrounding nations, including Israel. His ambition was evident in his relentless pursuit of power and territorial expansion.

Despite this, Hazael is also depicted as a ruthless ruler, employing brutal tactics to achieve his goals. He is known for his merciless military campaigns and his ability to inspire fear among his enemies. However, there are instances that suggest he was capable of mercy when it served his interests, such as sparing the life of Elisha, the prophet of Israel, after being urged by the latter's servant Gehazi.

Hazael's reign is characterized by a mix of political astuteness, military prowess, and unpredictable benevolence, making him an intriguing historical figure whose actions continue to be debated among scholars.

Popularity of the name Hazael

The name Hazael is relatively uncommon in modern Western cultures, as it originates from ancient times and has Biblical significance. In the Old Testament, Hazael was a king of Aram-Damascus who ruled during the ninth century BC. Despite its historical roots, the popularity of the name Hazael has not been consistently high throughout recent history. However, in certain niche communities or among individuals with a strong interest in Biblical history and names, Hazael may have a higher level of recognition and usage. Overall, Hazael is considered a rare and unique name choice.

Famous people with the name Hazael

Hazael is a biblical name associated with three notable figures from different eras and cultures. The most well-known is King Hazael of Aram (Syria), who ruled during the 9th century BCE. He is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, particularly in the books of Kings and Isaiah, where he is depicted as a brutal conqueror who defeated Israel and Judah. Another significant figure named Hazael was an ancient Greek philosopher from Alexandria, Egypt, who lived in the 3rd century BCE. He was a prominent disciple of the Stoic school of philosophy and wrote on various philosophical topics, including ethics, logic, and metaphysics. Lastly, there is Hazel Castilleja, an American computer scientist known for her work in the field of software engineering. She is a professor at Stanford University and has made significant contributions to the design and analysis of large-scale distributed systems.

Variations of the name Hazael

The given name Hazael has multiple variations across different cultures and languages. In Hebrew, where it originates, the name is spelled חזאל (Hazal). This name means "God sees" or "God observes". In some translations of the Old Testament, this name appears as Jehu or Jotham. The Aramaic form of the name is Azriel (עזריאל), which means "God helps". In Arabic, it is known as Hazza'il (هزائيل) and means "grace of God". Additionally, there are alternative spellings such as Hazaiel, Hazaeli, and Hazayel. The name Hazael is most notably associated with King Hazael of Aram-Damascus in the Bible. This historical figure ruled during the 9th century BCE and was a powerful adversary to the Kingdom of Israel under King Jehu.

Sources & References

About the author :
NomOrigine Team
NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 14 June 2025

Share the origin and meaning of your name with your friends

Search the origin of a first name

Enter the first name you are looking for below:

Similar First Names

Haz interiors (First name)

forenames > haz-interiors

The name "Haz" is of Turkish origin and means "grief" or "sadness." It can also be a shortened form of the name "Hasan" which is of Arabic origin and means "good" or "handsome."

Hazal (First name)

forenames > hazal

The name Hazel has Anglo-Saxon origins. It is derived from the Old English word "hazel," which refers to the hazelnut tree. The name was originally given to girls born under the ha...

Hazan (First name)

forenames > hazan

The origin of the first name Hazan is Turkish. It is derived from the Turkish word "hazan," which means "autumn" in English.

Hazapariu (First name)

forenames > hazapariu

The name Hazapariu does not have a widely known origin or meaning in English. It does not appear to be a common name in the English-speaking world.

Hazel (First name)

forenames > hazel

The name Hazel has multiple origins. 1. English Origin: Hazel is derived from the English word "hazel," which refers to the hazelnut tree or the color hazel, which is a light bro...

Hazel-rose (First name)

forenames > hazel-rose

The name Hazel is of Old English origin, derived from the name of the hazel tree. The name Rose is of Latin origin, derived from the flower of the same name.

Hazeth (First name)

forenames > hazeth

The origin of the name Hazeth is uncertain and not widely recognized.

Hazi naeem (First name)

forenames > hazi-naeem

The name Hazi Naeem is of Arabic origin.

Hazia (First name)

forenames > hazia

The name Hazia has Arabic origins. It is derived from the Arabic word "haza" which means "to discover" or "to clarify."

Haziariful (First name)

forenames > haziariful

The origin of the name Haziariful is not known.

Hazikul (First name)

forenames > hazikul

The origin of the name "Hazikul" is likely Arabic.

Hazique (First name)

forenames > hazique

The name Hazique does not have a commonly-known origin or meaning in English. It is possible that it could be a variation or a unique name with no specific etymology.

Hazitullah (First name)

forenames > hazitullah

The name "Hazitullah" is of Arabic origin. It is a combination of the Arabic elements "haz" meaning "attention" or "care" and "Allah" meaning "God". It is a common name among Musli...

Haziz (First name)

forenames > haziz

The origin of the first name "Haziz" is Arabic. It is a name commonly used in Muslim-majority countries. The name "Haziz" means "respected" or "esteemed" in Arabic.

Hazleenabbas (First name)

forenames > hazleenabbas

The name "Hazleenabbas" is of Arabic origin. "Hazleen" is a common Arabic name meaning "noble" or "respected," while "Abbas" is also an Arabic name that means "lion" or "father's j...