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Axel

“Variant of Absalom — father is peace (Hebrew Avshalom)” — Danish (Aksel < bishop Absalon < biblical Absalom) origin

Boy's name · #79 in the US (2025) · 2020s

Axel is near its high-water mark: it reached #71 in 2023 and still ranked #79 in 2025. About 72,000 boys have carried it since 1880.

Around the world: #39 in Sweden (2025) · #43 in Finland (Swedish-sp.) (2025) · #71 in France (2025) · #100 in Spain (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 50 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Axels

• Axel Witsel — Belgian association football player (born 1989)
• Axel Munthe — Swedish physician (1857-1949)
• Axel Oxenstierna — Swedish statesman (1583-1654)
• Axel Rodrigues de Arruda — Brazilian association football player
• Axel Disasi — French footballer (born 1998)

In stories & tradition

• Axel Foley — Beverly Hills Cop · Beverly Hills Cop II
• Axel Blaze — Inazuma Eleven
• Axel Borg — Lefranc

What Axels become

Among 3,411 notable people named Axel:

Medical professionals appear 1.83× more often than among typical names — e.g. Axel Munthe, Swedish physician (1857-1949).

Similar names: Theo · Ace · Matteo · Ezekiel · Adriel · Abel

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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