It’s okay if it takes a few minutes (or more) for it to settle in. It’s sort of a big name for a little baby. It took us a while looking at photos of blonde little girls and imagining them with that name before we could commit. :)
Hazel comes from the Hebrew haz?’?l which means “God sees”, and oh my does that mean everything to me! It reminds me of David’s words in Psalm 139, I love that:
“O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.”
We also realized after talking with Ryan’s parents that Hazel is also her great-great-grandmother’s name on Ryan’s side. Isn’t that a happy happy providence!
Wren means “little bird”. We like that it’s got the same feeling as Hazel and it reminds us of Jesus’ words about the birds of the air in Matthew 6:25-27:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
So, what does Hazel Wren mean to us? It means,
“Worry not, little bird. God sees you and He cares for you!”
We can’t wait to meet you! And now we can pray for you by name!
(May I note here that she is currently somersaulting inside of me as I type!)
Thank you for all your tremendous help yesterday, friends! It was so much fun to hear all your name suggestions! I knew I could count on you ;) And if there are others of you who are also working on naming a girl, there are TONS of good ideas in the comments of that last post – please, help yourselves (except to Hazel Wren, of course!) ;)
>I love it!! So beautiful and powerful. The meanings are awesome. It totally fits! WOOHOO! :)
>What a sweet name.
So beautiful.
Praying for Hazel Wren by name.
>This post brought me to tears. I'm so thrilled for you guys and I LOVE the name! We love names with real meaning! :)
>It's just perfect!
>That is so beautiful! It will fit her just perfect:)
>Very pretty and old fashioned. We have old fashioned names here. Abbygail and Audrey. Abby is pretty common in the 4-5 year old ranges but I haven't heard an Audrey in the 1-2 year olds.
>Love, love, love it. Love it. Love. It.
>Yay, I suggested Hazel yesterday. I <3 it so much. Love her name :)
Yay…grow hazel grow!
>Beautiful. I'm sure it will fit her perfectly!
>A beautiful name with a beautiful meaning!
>I think its beautifully awesome!!!
Congrats!
>That's beautiful! I love that there is a special meaning behind it! YAY!
>This is my first time commenting, but I was too excited to hold it all in. :) Yeah!! My friend has a little girl named Hazel. Our son and her are both 8 months old. I love the name!! I'm so excited for you guys!!
>beautiful! <3
>Eek! I LOVE it!!
>That is so funny that you chose Hazel because I almost posted it as a suggestion, but I didn't because it didn't have a "v". Hazel is my grandmother's name and one day when I have a girl, it will be her middle name. I love Layla Hazel. Now I just have to wait til God gives me a girl! I pray that you continue to have a VERY happy and easy pregnancy! And, of course, I love the name!
>That is so funny that you chose Hazel because I almost posted it as a suggestion, but I didn't because it didn't have a "v". Hazel is my grandmother's name and one day when I have a girl, it will be her middle name. I love Layla Hazel. Now I just have to wait til God gives me a girl! I pray that you continue to have a VERY happy and easy pregnancy! And, of course, I love the name!
>I love it! It sounds sweet, strong and serene… everything a name for a little girl should be. Praying for Hazel Wren as she continues to grow in her Mommy's tummy and for peace and strength for you and Ryan.
>Wren is very very cool.
>beautiful! And now i can name my daughter Ivy! haha
Im so excited to have a name for her now!
Love to you and baby Hazel!
>Yay a name! Yay for Hazel!
>It is beautiful!
>Congrats to you and Ryan. What a sweet name and fun expectation!
>BEAUTIFUL!!! I love when names have deep meanings like that. Love the scriptures, a couple of my favorites :)
>Simply beautiful!!!!!!!
>Gorgeous name choice! Our daughter's first name is Wren, I have never met another :) Hazel is just beautiful, congrats to you both!!!
>I don't visit for a week and I come back and you're not only pregnant – it's a baby girl with a NAME! Absolutely THRILLED for you and your family.
And I'm in LOVE with the name AND the meaning. Hazel goes so nicely with Oliver…
Oh, this just made my night! Praise the Lord for his blessings!
>Such a beautiful name!!
I love it =]
>LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! That name is perfect!
>LOVE IT!
i told ya wren was a great middle name ;)
i'll be praying for miss hazel!
>Congratulations!
What a cute name!
>Congratulations!!
Her name is perfect. Love it!
>Raechel!!! I have been a long time reader but this is my first comment! My computer has been broken for quite some time & I have missed reading your blog but I was SO surprised to find your new announcement! CONGRATULATIONS! I couldn't be more happy! You and Ryan and the most deserving people & I'm sure Oliver is so excited too!
Whit (in Missouri)
P.S. I LOVE her name! Beautiful!
>Absolutely perfect.
Reading how her name has a Real Meaning, makes me want to go check out my children's names and make it more REAL too!
best of luck with little Hazel Wren (lovin' the middle name!) and the rest of the pregnancy. God has His hand on her and you.
Lori-Anne
>I love the name Hazel! That was my Aunt's name and I miss her very much. She was an incredible woman. And Wren is SO lovely. Hazel Wren is just perfect! :-)
Summer
>Great name!!! Great meaning!!!
>Love it! So great that you guys could decide so quickly.
>I really like that name! new to your blog and what a fun post to read first!
>I'm so thrilled for you guys and I LOVE the name! We love names with real meaning! :) Work from home India
>I LOVE IT!! I love it, i think it is perfect and has meaning and thats what I love! What are some other names you where decididng between.. I really need help with boy names!