Axel Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Axel has Scandinavian origins, stemming from the Old Norse 'Ásgeirr', which combines the elements for 'god' and 'spear'. It signifies 'father of peace'. The name has evolved through various historical forms and gained significant popularity in the 19th century, becoming widely used in modern settings. Axel is associated with strength and creativity, and it has notable individuals such as Axel Rose and Axel Springer.
The name Axel is most popular in Nevada, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been consistently rising. From 2020-2022, Axel has been too falling for male in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too rising for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too falling for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for male in West. Across generations, 'Axel' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1189th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2537th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2605th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2025th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1100th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 278th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 94th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 15297th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 9579th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Axel' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Axel"
Pronunciation
/ˈæksəl/
Origin
Scandinavian
Etymology
The name Axel is derived from the Old Norse name 'Ásgeirr', which is composed of the elements 'ás', meaning 'god', and 'geirr', meaning 'spear'.
Meaning
Father of peace
Language Evolution
Ásgeirr (Old Norse), Axel (Scandinavian), Axel (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Axel gained popularity in the 19th century, especially in Scandinavia and later in other parts of Europe and the world.
Variants & Derivatives
Aksel, Axelle, Akseli
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Axel is perceived as a strong and modern name, often associated with creativity and individuality.
Famous People
Axel Rose - Lead vocalist of the rock band Guns N' Roses, Axel Springer - German publisher and entrepreneur, Axel Witsel - Belgian professional footballer
Explore More Axel Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Axel"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Axel"
"Axel" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1189th of 7545 | 572 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2537th of 6773 | 166 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2605th of 7552 | 188 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2025th of 10718 | 342 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1100th of 16616 | 1,400 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 278th of 24088 | 18,658 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 94th of 23106 | 46,623 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 15297th of 35406 | 74 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 9579th of 30306 | 127 |
Regional Popularity of "Axel" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
49.51% 701st/1416 |
- | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
59.55% 1447th/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
49.30% 1448th/2937 |
35.92% 1251st/3483 |
- |
41.02% 1659th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
33.27% 1226th/3685 |
21.43% 959th/4475 |
24.91% 1294th/5194 |
12.79% 808th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
7.81% 358th/4582 |
6.97% 360th/5164 |
3.82% 279th/7313 |
2.92% 218th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
3.16% 126th/3984 |
2.74% 123rd/4487 |
1.28% 87th/6822 |
1.32% 83rd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Axel" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Axel"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Axel" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.