Boy name · Hebrew
Axel
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: my father is peaceAxel is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "my father is peace". It is used in English, German, Scandinavian, French and Spanish.
- Meaning
- My father is peace
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #79 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Axel
As a boy's name, Axel comes from Hebrew and means "my father is peace". It is used in English, German, Scandinavian, French and Spanish.
In French, say ak-SEL. In Spanish, say AHK-sel. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Axel on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Axel on 6 lists.
“A Scandinavian name with a sharp, sporty edge”
From Boy dog names, strong male dog names
“A strong name with a fire-axe ring to it”
From Firefighter dog names, classic firefighter dog names
“My father is peace; Hebrew, via Danish. Say ak-SEL”
From French boy names, short French boy names
“My father is peace; Hebrew. Danish form of Absalom. Say AHK-sel”
From Mexican boy names, modern Mexican names for boys
“My father is peace; Scandinavian form of Absalom. Say AK-sel”
From Strong boy names, strong-sounding modern boy names
“The most popular axolotl name, for obvious reasons”
From Axolotl names, girl and boy axolotl names
How popular is Axel?
- US rank in 2025
- #79
- 4,140 babies, 2,424 per million boys
- Best rank
- #71 in 2023
- Most babies: 4,667 in 2020
- Babies since 1880
- At least 72,459
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 149 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 145 per million |
| 1900s | 63 per million |
| 1910s | 44 per million |
| 1920s | 21 per million |
| 1930s | 8 per million |
| 1940s | 5 per million |
| 1950s | 4 per million |
| 1960s | 9 per million |
| 1970s | 13 per million |
| 1980s | 24 per million |
| 1990s | 79 per million |
| 2000s | 532 per million |
| 2010s | 1,692 per million |
| 2020s | 2,555 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #116 | #104 | #94 | #84 | #72 | #76 | #76 | #71 | #78 | #79 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Axel
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- AbelBreath (Hebrew, boy)
- AdelJust, fair (Arabic, boy)
- AlexDefender, protector (Greek, unisex)
- ArielLion of God (Hebrew, boy)
- AnselGod helmet (Germanic, boy)
- AresPerhaps from Greek words for bane, ruin, or male (Greek, boy)
- AbeFather of many (Hebrew, boy)
- AceFrom the English word ace, highest rank (English, boy)
- AdilFair, just (Arabic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- IrenePeace, tranquility (Greek, girl)
- IbrahimFather of many nations (Hebrew, boy)
- AbrahamFather of many (Hebrew, boy)
- FridaPeace; in Old Norse, beloved (Germanic and Old Norse, girl)
- MiraPeace, from Slavic Mir- names; in Sanskrit, sea (Slavic, girl)
- AbigailMy father is joy (Hebrew, girl)
- AbnerMy father is light (Hebrew, boy)
- AbramHigh father (Hebrew, boy)
- BramFather of many (Hebrew, boy)
- CasimirDestroyer of peace (Slavic, boy)
Middle names for Axel
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- CarltonSettlement of free peasants (Old English, boy)
- ChristopherBearer of Christ (Greek, boy)
- ElliottMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, unisex)
- FrancisFrenchman (Latin, boy)
- FrederickPeaceful ruler (Germanic, boy)
- GrantGreat, large (Old French, boy)
- HowellEminent, conspicuous (Welsh, boy)
- PeterRock, stone (Greek, boy)
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)
Axel: common questions
What does the name Axel mean?
Axel comes from Hebrew and means "my father is peace".
Is Axel a boy or girl name?
Axel is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 8 girls and 4,140 boys in the US were named Axel, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Axel come from?
Axel comes from Hebrew and means "my father is peace". Today it is used in English, German, Scandinavian, French and Spanish.
How popular is the name Axel?
Axel ranked #79 in the US in 2025, with 4,140 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Axel?
Names spelled like Axel include Abel, Adel, Alex, Ariel and Ansel.
What middle names go with Axel?
Middle names that flow well with Axel include Carlton, Christopher, Elliott, Francis and Frederick. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.