The Meaning of the Name Axel
Axel is a masculine given name derived from the Hebrew name Abshalom, which means “father of peace”. It is also a variant of the Greek name Axios, which means “worthy” or “deserving”. The name Axel has been popular in Scandinavia since the Middle Ages and is now used throughout Europe and North America.
Origin and History
The origin of the name Axel can be traced back to the Hebrew language. In Hebrew, Abshalom was a son of King David who was known for his beauty and wisdom. The name was later adopted by Scandinavian countries during the Middle Ages, where it became popular among royalty and nobility. It eventually spread to other parts of Europe and North America.
In Scandinavia, Axel was often used as a nickname for Alexander, which is derived from the Greek word for “defender of men”. This association with Alexander made it a popular choice among European royalty and nobility. In recent years, it has become increasingly popular in North America as well.
Popularity
Axel is currently ranked as the 545th most popular boys’ name in the United States, according to data from the Social Security Administration. It is also one of the top 100 most popular names in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Spain.
The popularity of Axel has grown steadily over the past few decades. In 2020 alone, it saw an increase in popularity by more than 10%. This could be attributed to its strong association with Alexander and its meaning of “father of peace”.
Famous People Named Axel
There are many famous people who have been given the name Axel over the years. Some notable examples include:
- Axel Foley, a character from the movie series Beverly Hills Cop;
- Axel Witsel, a Belgian professional footballer;
- Axel Rose, lead singer of Guns N’ Roses;
- Axel Schulz, a German boxer;
- Axel Merckx, a Belgian cyclist;
- Axel Prahl, a German actor;
These are just some of the many famous people who have been given this unique name.
Conclusion
The name Axel is derived from Hebrew and Greek roots that mean “father of peace” or “worthy”. It has been popular in Scandinavia since the Middle Ages and is now used throughout Europe and North America. It is currently ranked as one of the top 100 most popular boys’ names in several countries around the world. There are many famous people who have been given this unique name over the years.