Axel

Axel - A unique male name

Axel appeared on the charts for the first time in 1912 on position #891. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Axel and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Axel? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Axel. The baby boy name Axel was given to 4,133 baby boys in 2025, ranking #79 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 355 baby boys were given this name - making this a unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Axel peaked in popularity 3 years ago in 2023 on position 71.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Axel, 1-5?

Axel is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Axel is currently topping the baby name charts in Oklahoma at position #51 - and is the least popular in New Hampshire at position #170.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Axel is where you live.

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Axel origin and meaning

Scandinavian — form of Absalom

"Father of peace" — via Danish Aksel, from Hebrew Absalom

Axel is the Scandinavian reshaping of the biblical Absalom, carried through Denmark and Sweden for centuries. In America it grew slowly for decades and peaked in 2020, helped by its hard-edged, rock-ready sound.

Attested etymology

Axel is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Axel, pop culture references for the name Axel and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Axel

We've found the following names that sound similar to Axel, sorted by popularity.

Ashley / Aziel / Axl / Azael / Aksel / Akhil / Asael / Axle / Akil / Axell /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Axel

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Axel a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Axel?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

AK-sel · /ˈæksəl/

Around the world

• Aksel (Danish and Norwegian) — The Scandinavian spelling.
• Axel (German) — Used as-is in German.

Spellings and nicknames

• Aksel — The Scandinavian spelling.
• Axell — A rare doubled-l respelling.

Famous bearers

• Axel Witsel — Belgian international footballer (b. 1989) Contemporary
• Axel Foley — The Detroit detective played by Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop (Fictional, 1984) Fictional

Style

InternationalBiblical

Why parents choose it

Parents like a short name with real Scandinavian history and a tough, mechanical edge — strong without being long.

Worth knowing

• Listeners may hear the car part, the axle, first; and the singer is Axl Rose — a different spelling and a stage name.