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Consider the biblical Hazael instead

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazael

I really don't think it's a unisex name. Personally, I don't like it for a boy or a girl. It's an old lady's name to me.

I like it a lot.

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I used it on a character in one of my NaNoWriMos, so I probably wouldn't use it myself, but I would like seeing it used.

SabrinaFair would hug you

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Hazel-on-a-boy was a favorite of a previous poster here. I don't particularly like it on a boy. It sounds rather dainty to me.

There used to be a poster here who was fond of saying that she loved Hazel but only for a boy. She didn't believe in any gender rules for names in general.

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I just can't see it for a boy. It's not excessively frilly or soft, not at all, but still, there is something decidedly feminine about it. I pity any boy named Hazel.

There was a Biblical king called Hazael, which is very close.
Hasle or Hazle, which are alternate spellings to Hazel prefixing the surname Hazelwood (Haslewood, Hazlewood) and Hazelrigg seem to me more masculine-sounding options.
The surnames are worth considering; either one can then be shortened for everyday fn use. For instance, I know someone whose father's first name is Hazelwood - he's known as Haze.

This message was edited 6/15/2010, 5:20 AM

It makes me think of the (male) rabbit in Watership Down. I don't see why it wouldn't work on either sex in theory, but in practice it might be a bit awkward for a real boy.

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edited to add: Just remembered there was a musician called Hasil Adkins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasil_Adkins) - slightly different pronunciation, but possibly a more masculine alternative to Hazel.

This message was edited 6/15/2010, 4:29 AM

In Watership Down it's a male rabbit. But mostly it's a cartoon witch with a niece called Little Itch. You never know when these things might hit the TV again after decades of oblivion.