Boy nameCurrently #78 in the USRising
Axel
AK-sul//ˈæksəl//
2 syllablesPeak year: 20204 lettersStarts with A
Meaning & origin
Father of peace (Scandinavian form of Absalom)
Axel is a Scandinavian form of Absalom, from Hebrew elements meaning 'father' and 'peace'. Its edgy, modern sound and mechanical echo of the word 'axle' have made it a fast-rising favorite in the 2010s and 2020s.
Axel's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Axel |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 16 |
| 1881 | 14 |
| 1882 | 12 |
| 1883 | 12 |
| 1884 | 16 |
| 1885 | 16 |
| 1886 | 25 |
| 1887 | 18 |
| 1888 | 16 |
| 1889 | 18 |
| 1890 | 16 |
| 1891 | 17 |
| 1892 | 13 |
| 1893 | 23 |
| 1894 | 10 |
| 1895 | 20 |
| 1896 | 15 |
| 1897 | 17 |
| 1898 | 20 |
| 1899 | 14 |
| 1900 | 11 |
| 1901 | 6 |
| 1902 | 8 |
| 1903 | 10 |
| 1904 | 6 |
| 1905 | 8 |
| 1906 | 12 |
| 1907 | 11 |
| 1908 | 6 |
| 1909 | 8 |
| 1910 | 12 |
| 1911 | 11 |
| 1912 | 27 |
| 1913 | 21 |
| 1914 | 25 |
| 1915 | 49 |
| 1916 | 49 |
| 1917 | 36 |
| 1918 | 40 |
| 1919 | 21 |
| 1920 | 27 |
| 1921 | 41 |
| 1922 | 23 |
| 1923 | 24 |
| 1924 | 22 |
| 1925 | 33 |
| 1926 | 13 |
| 1927 | 23 |
| 1928 | 6 |
| 1929 | 20 |
| 1930 | 15 |
| 1931 | 8 |
| 1932 | 10 |
| 1934 | 8 |
| 1935 | 15 |
| 1936 | 11 |
| 1937 | 8 |
| 1938 | 6 |
| 1939 | 8 |
| 1940 | 5 |
| 1941 | 9 |
| 1942 | 9 |
| 1943 | 12 |
| 1944 | 8 |
| 1945 | 8 |
| 1946 | 7 |
| 1947 | 9 |
| 1948 | 5 |
| 1949 | 9 |
| 1950 | 14 |
| 1951 | 7 |
| 1952 | 11 |
| 1955 | 6 |
| 1956 | 9 |
| 1958 | 19 |
| 1959 | 19 |
| 1960 | 13 |
| 1961 | 18 |
| 1962 | 14 |
| 1963 | 13 |
| 1964 | 15 |
| 1965 | 15 |
| 1966 | 14 |
| 1967 | 12 |
| 1968 | 23 |
| 1969 | 31 |
| 1970 | 33 |
| 1971 | 19 |
| 1972 | 16 |
| 1973 | 20 |
| 1974 | 17 |
| 1975 | 17 |
| 1976 | 26 |
| 1977 | 24 |
| 1978 | 20 |
| 1979 | 29 |
| 1980 | 26 |
| 1981 | 25 |
| 1982 | 25 |
| 1983 | 29 |
| 1984 | 37 |
| 1985 | 36 |
| 1986 | 56 |
| 1987 | 49 |
| 1988 | 48 |
| 1989 | 115 |
| 1990 | 131 |
| 1991 | 151 |
| 1992 | 135 |
| 1993 | 124 |
| 1994 | 133 |
| 1995 | 145 |
| 1996 | 161 |
| 1997 | 171 |
| 1998 | 192 |
| 1999 | 191 |
| 2000 | 731 |
| 2001 | 1,279 |
| 2002 | 918 |
| 2003 | 809 |
| 2004 | 943 |
| 2005 | 1,056 |
| 2006 | 1,132 |
| 2007 | 1,207 |
| 2008 | 1,265 |
| 2009 | 1,330 |
| 2010 | 1,980 |
| 2011 | 3,046 |
| 2012 | 2,482 |
| 2013 | 2,433 |
| 2014 | 2,814 |
| 2015 | 3,260 |
| 2016 | 3,477 |
| 2017 | 3,807 |
| 2018 | 4,080 |
| 2019 | 4,512 |
| 2020 | 4,674 |
| 2021 | 4,551 |
| 2022 | 4,357 |
| 2023 | 4,532 |
| 2024 | 4,253 |
Axel through the decades
- Axel peaked in 2020, when 4,674 babies were named Axel in the US.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Axel has risen 121% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Axel currently ranks #78 in the US and is on the rise.
Nicknames
Ax
Variants & spellings
Aksel