Skip to content
Name Lineage

    The first name Axel

    A boy’s name from Norse meaning “god”, “cauldron”, “helmet”.

    Pronounced /ˈæk.səl/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Norse origin

    Axel means “god”, “cauldron”, “helmet” in Norse.

    From Danish Aksel, first used for the bishop and statesman Absalon Hvide (1128–1201), from biblical Absalom. Some sources suggest that the bishop was originally named Áskell, from Old Norse "god" + "cauldron, helmet", and Absalon was chosen as the nearest-sounding Christian equivalent, leading to the exchange of the middle consonants.

    More names that mean god.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 363 boys were named Axel, making it the 147th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2022, with 547 births (#100).

    0300600 1996200020052010201520202025
    3,942
    babies named Axel, 1996–2025
    #147
    rank in 2025
    2022
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Axel with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Axel at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 4,140 boys born in the United States were named Axel, the 79th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2020, when 4,667 were.

    02,5005,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    72,668
    babies named Axel since 1880
    #79
    rank in 2025
    2020
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Axel in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Aksel
    Danish, also Axel
    Aksel
    Estonian
    Akseli
    Finnish
    Άξελος
    Áxelos
    Greek
    アクセル
    Akuseru
    Japanese
    Aksel
    Norwegian, also Axel
    А́ксель
    Ákselʹ
    Russian

    Spelled Axel in French, German and Swedish too.

    Famous people named Axel

    90 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Axel Witsel
      Belgian association football player (born 1989)
    • Axel Rodrigues de Arruda
      Brazilian association football player, born 1970
    • Axel Disasi
      French footballer (born 1998)
    • Axel Tuanzebe
      DR Congolese footballer, born 1997
    • Axel Ehnström
      Finnish singer-songwriter, born 1990
    • Axel Rudi Pell
      German guitarist (born 1960)
    • Axel Springer
      German mass media owner, 1912–1985
    • Prince Axel of Denmark
      Danish prince, naval officer and business executive (1888–1964)
    • Axel Merckx
      Belgian road bicycle racer, born 1972
    • Axel Hirsoux
      Belgian singer, born 1982
    • Axel Bakunts
      Armenian activist (1899–1937)
    • Axel Harnack
      Baltic German mathematician (1851–1888)

    More Norse boys’ names

    All 32 names of Norse origin

    Questions

    What does the name Axel mean?
    Axel means “god”, “cauldron”, “helmet” in Norse.
    What is the origin of the name Axel?
    From Danish Aksel, first used for the bishop and statesman Absalon Hvide (1128–1201), from biblical Absalom. Some sources suggest that the bishop was originally named Áskell, from Old Norse "god" + "cauldron, helmet", and Absalon was chosen as the nearest-sounding Christian equivalent, leading to…
    How popular is the name Axel?
    In 2025, 363 boys born in England and Wales were named Axel, ranking 147th. Its peak was 2022, with 547 births.
    Is Axel a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 72,668 US babies named Axel since 1880 were boys.
    When was Axel most popular?
    2020 in the United States, when 4,667 babies were named Axel, its highest rank at 72nd.
    How do you pronounce Axel?
    Axel is /ˈæk.səl/, 2 syllables.
    Is Axel also a surname?
    Yes. Axel is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.